1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

When I read this verse today my first thoughts went to the movie “Taken” with Liam Neeson. His daughter was taken by flesh peddlers to be sold to the highest bidder. He did everything within his power to get her back and he did. She was powerless to save herself, much like we were powerless to save ourselves. But we are saved, right?

Let me point directly at the words of 1 Corinthian 10:13 that will shed some light for understanding. I do not change or alter in any way the words, only isolate them. Those words are “no temptation taken you”. Let us be clear here, temptation cannot take you. It is a distraction, the bait set by sin, but has not and cannot take you. It is not the same thing as being caught up in a sin. That is a whole different matter.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ proved it is not a sin to be tempted. You have an out. You have a choice, you have not been taken. You have taken your eyes off the prize which is your calling in Christ.

To quote my old drill instructor, “Eyes forward mister!!”

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The mind is a wonderful tool for man. It is inventive, calculating, imaginative, and solves problems. Without the mind of man, we would all still be hunter gatherers like many of the animals of this planet. But we are not animals, are we? Or are we?

We do like to think we are above the animals, that we are superior in all ways to animals. We even view them as pets, food, and wild subjects in OUR world. We dominate this planet it is ours. Yes, the mind rationalizes also.

I quoted Hebrews 4:12 for one reason. It identifies that first degree of separation between man and animals. We are chosen vessels to receive the spirit of God. The word of God is how we can identify that first degree of separation, the differences between the soul and spirit, between structure and substance, between thoughts and intent.

Man without God is an animal. If you do not believe that just turn on the news and see what they are doing to each other. Murder, mayhem, theft, greed, corruption, genocide, and ugliness so vile I will not speak it here. All these things and more are the result of man pushing God out of their lives, out of their governments, out of their nations.  And here we are, believers, possessed of God separated by just one degree of Good News.

The time for the harvest is ripe. Share the Good News.