True Sabbath And Creation - Revelation 22:12-13

Revelation 22:12-13 NASB 

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

The Bible tells of the beginning and end of creation.  These verses tell us that Christ is the beginning and end. Through Him the word of God is spoken. His word will bring a new creation.  He has begun this thing and He will do it. 

We begin in this creation and will end before Him at his feet. If we find the wisdom of God, we will be rewarded with new life as He intended. This is the true Sabbath and creation. 

God's work is done

Against This People - Luke 21:20-24

Luke 21:20-24 ESV 

Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem

 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

This prophesy is against Jerusalem and Israel. The "days of vengeance" apply to "this people" primarily, and to Babylon secondarily. This is the judgement against a people chosen by God who rejected Him and blasphemed His dwelling place. 

Revelation represents this judgement and  conclusion from chapter four onward. The letters to the churches in chapters two and three pertain to the Church which is the outcome of Israel's failure and the fulfillment of God's will. 

The time is coming when they will come to the feet of Christ and will witness to the nations. 

Render - Luke 20:19-26

Luke 20:19-26 ESV 

Paying Taxes to Caesar

 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

The question might be what belongs to God?  In whose likeness are we made?  

We have been reborn in the image of Christ. All those who have been sealed in the Spirit are marked by God as His own. All those who do not follow after our Lord belong to the world. They bear a mark contrary to God. 

In His Hand - Jeremiah 51:5-7

Jeremiah 51:5-7 NASB 

For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken

By his God, the Lord of hosts,

Although their land is full of guilt

 Before the Holy One of Israel.

 Flee from the midst of Babylon,

And each of you save his life!

Do not be destroyed in her punishment,

For this is the Lord’s time of vengeance;

He is going to render recompense to her.

 Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord,

Intoxicating all the earth.

The nations have drunk of her wine;

Therefore the nations are going mad.

All that takes place in the world is allowed by the hand of God.  The deeds of man are done in the freedom God allows to choose between right and wrong, between darkness and light.  That freedom allows us to choose Him. 

Babylon is like the forbidden fruit placed in the Garden.  The wine from her cup looks and tastes good, but drinking that wine is madness. 

We are unable to see everything as God sees it.  His ways are not ours, but we who have chosen Him are going His way.  He tells us what He is doing.  We don't understand now, but we will not be disappointed. 

I Will Give It To Him - Ezekiel 21:25-27

Ezekiel 21:25-27 NASB 

And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end, ’ thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high. A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him. ’

God uses Babylon to judge Israel. That judgement continues today. 

When Jesus returns, He will assume the throne of David. Israel will be sealed with the Spirit and will ascend to the mountain of The Lord. They will follow Him wherever He goes. 

Made You Well - Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19 ESV 

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus 'feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Ten were cleansed, but there is only one made well. 

Is there a difference in being healed and made well?

Perhaps being healed is the physical manifestation of the touch of Jesus. This was given to all the lepers. They all left to show the priests this miracle of healing. This may point us to Israel and that nation's struggle with coming to God. They needed to go back to their priests, but there was one that went directly to God the Son. 

One turned back and fell at the feet of Jesus, offering praise and worship. This foreigner alone turned back to the healer. He did not remain at a distance, but drew close. Here was a heart that The Lord seeks. 

The command of Jesus was different for this man of faith. The man was in a different position in relation to The Lord.  Because he was cleansed, he could draw near. The man chose to turn. Because of his faith he was made well. He was spiritually made whole. 

When we fall at the feet of Jesus, we are then able to rise into new life. We are made well, fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Then You Will Know - Ezekiel 20:36-38

Ezekiel 20:36-38 ESV 

As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel speaks to Israel and tells them He will once again bring them out of Egypt, or the nations, to the promised land. Those that sin against The Lord will begin the journey, but will fall short of entering the land, just as they did in the wilderness journey. 

Israel models for us our reality. We likewise journey to the promised land and will reach it if we endure with faith and trust in The Lord.  His grace is given for the sake of His name. 

At the end we will know Him. 

Set Me On My Feet - Ezekiel 2:1-2

Ezekiel 2:1-2 NASB 

The Prophet’s Call

 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

Ezekiel hears the word of God, but is not ready or able to understand until the Spirit enters. He had fallen in the presence of The Lord in the humility that comes from an encounter with the Divine. 

The Lord speaks to the upright and ones who are able to stand in His presence.  This is only possible through the Spirit.  With that same Spirit we are sealed and have access to His life.   

Breaking Bread

Knowing how to make bread is one thing. Knowing its meaning is another. 

The bread of life is offered to all. 

Then All Things - Luke 11:40-41

Luke 11:40-41 NASB

You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.

Performing righteous acts on the outside does not mean salvation has taken place.  Salvation happens first in the inner man, on the inside. 

It is when the outside reflects the inside that we become clean.  God judges the heart.  This is how one can sin and still be clean. Once the body is washed, all that remains is washing the feet as we journey through this world.  The dust of the world is ever with us. 

The washing of feet means staying in the word and at the feet of Christ. By the light of that word and the abiding in Christ, we will reach our journey's end.  We will dine evermore at the table of The Lord. 

With The Appearance Of A Man - Ezekiel 1:26-28

Ezekiel 1:26-28 NASB 

Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

The Son of God is previewed in the Old Testament. The fire of God is within Him and on Him, producing a radiance around this figure which is the glory of God.  He takes on the appearance of a man. 

There is only one sitting on the throne.  The Father and Son are one.  

The rainbow is a symbol of promise by God to mankind and all living creatures.  Jesus is the promised one that will bring salvation to the earth. 

Watching Satan Fall - Luke 10:18-20

Luke 10:18-20 NASB 

And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

After the seventy two disciple return, Jesus says a remarkable thing about Satan falling from heaven. He was cast out of heaven where no room is found for him. This is where he is bound for a long time to pursue those that follow Christ. 

One day there will no longer be a place for him on earth. 

Satan no longer deceives the saved because now they have the authority of Christ. 

Like An Expanse - Ezekiel 1:22

Ezekiel 1:22 NASB

 Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.

God separated the waters above from the waters below when He created the universe.  God's view of creation below His throne is crystal clear, while our natural vision upward is limited to creation. We can only make out the sun, moon, and stars without the presence of His Spirit. 

That division between heaven and earth will disappear when the new creation is revealed. 

Wheels - Ezekiel 1:15-21

Ezekiel 1:15-21 NASB 

Now as I looked at the living beings, behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.

The throne did not rest directly on the earth, but connected and moved on its surface by the wheels. Though God's throne is in heaven, He is sovereign and connected with earth.  This vision confirms this reality. 

The life from God is manifest in these wheels and is imparted into creation. The Spirit of God turns as a wheel inside the wheels and is at the center of all life. The eyes on the rim might refer to the creatures which behold the experience and glory of what He has done, and who participate in that life which is true life.  It is the Spirit that makes this possible. Those connected with the Spirit move with God. 

Living Creatures - Ezekiel 1:4-10

Ezekiel 1:4-10 ESV 

 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance:they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

The glory of The Lord is revealed to Ezekiel.  From the midst of that glory, he is able to see the symbol of God's throne.  These creatures have human form and it is on them that God sits. This positioning of the living creatures might remind us of Christ in the midst of the lampstands of the church.  The living creatures will be seen again in the throne room of John's vision in Revelation.  The repetition of four emphasizes creation.  

Their legs were straight and they went straight forward. They neither turn to the left or right, but proceed straight ahead according to His will. 

The soles of the feet like a calf's may symbolize all that is clean. 

The creatures had four faces each which epitomized the best of creation. The lion face is noted on the right side, the king of beasts.  On the left was the face of an ox, the strongest of domesticated animals and associated with divinity in ancient cultures.  The fourth and last face was that of the regal eagle. 

As the cherubim resting on the ark in the temple and the two within the temple, the wings of these creature touched another.  Under these wings were human hands, perhaps signifying the world has been given to man. 

The presence of The Lord is symbolized by descriptive terms associated with the glory of God. The refining fire of His Holiness burns before Ezekiel. 

Like Torches - Ezekiel 1:13-14

Ezekiel 1:13-14 NASB
In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.

Later, John gives witness to seven torches burning before the throne of God. Lightning was flashing from the fire and was in the living creatures. They were moving according to the Spirit of God.

Spend Itself - Ezekiel 5:11-13

Ezekiel 5:11-13 ESV 

Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

 “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord —that I have spoken in my jealousy— when I spend my fury upon them.

Here we see God's judgement pronounced against Jerusalem for their rebellion. In Revelation this judgement will be restated when the seals are opened and the four horseman come forth by command. 

His anger will spend itself and they shall know He is Lord.  A remnant will be saved.  Twelve tribes from Jacob will be redeemed at the end and they will give witness to The Lord.  They will follow after Him and a great multitude from the world will be saved. 

All These Things - Luke 2:49-52

Luke 2:49-52 NASB 

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

The same Greek word is used for the words  "statement" and "things" in this passage. 

ρημα rhema; from a modified form of 2046; a word, by impl. a matter:--

charge (1), discourse (1), fact (2), matters (1), message (2), nothing *(1), remark (1), say (1), say say (1), saying (1), sayings (3), statement (6), thing (2), things (4), word (18), words (22).

It was the word of The Lord Mary kept in her heart.  It confirmed the word of The Lord delivered by the angel at the conception of Jesus. 

This same action takes place in the heart of each believer. The word is confirmed and treasured in our walk with God.  We keep His word as we grow in wisdom into the full measure of Jesus.  Our charge is not only to endure, but to continue growing in the favor of God. 

The Eighth Day

Circumcision of the Jewish male on the eighth day foreshadows the reality of the new creation to come. We are circumcised in the heart and will inherit a new body which shall be everlasting.   

There is no ninth day, for the eighth day is eternal. 

I Have Spoken - Ezekiel 5:14-17

Ezekiel 5:14-17 ESV 

Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by. You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—I am the Lord; I have spoken— when I send against you the deadly arrows of famine, arrows for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, and when I bring more and more famine upon you and break your supply of bread. I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”

This may lend support to the idea that the first horseman in Revelation signifies God as unleashing His judgement on Jerusalem.  The arrows of destruction have been loosed from His quiver. In His hand is a bow which loosed the arrows of His judgement. 

A Third Part - Ezekiel 5:11-13

Ezekiel 5:11-13 ESV 

Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them.

 “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord —that I have spoken in my jealousy— when I spend my fury upon them.

Here we see God's judgement pronounced against Jerusalem for their rebellion. In Revelation this judgement will be restated when the seals are opened and the four horseman come forth by command. 

His anger will spend itself and they shall know He is Lord.  A remnant will be saved.  Twelve tribes from Jacob will be redeemed at the end and they will give witness to The Lord.  They will follow after Him and a great multitude from the world will be saved. 

Perfect In Weakness - 2Corinthians 12:7-10

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV 

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Since we remain in the flesh after the revelation of God in our lives, we are still weak. That is where grace works.  It is when we truly realize our weakness that we reach out to God.  We are prone to pride and conceit as we experience life in the wonder of our flesh.  Once we are able to see beyond our own strength and see the power of God and reach out for that power, we experience the perfection of God's plan. 

This is the boast of Paul.  The power of Christ rests upon him because of his understanding of his own lack of power. That becomes his power and life. 

There we see the perfect plan of God. 

He Spread It Before Me - Ezekiel 2:10

Ezekiel 2:10 ESV 

And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

We will see reference to this scroll again in Revelation.  The ascension of Jesus instituted the last days. He will be given authority over the earth because He has overcome sin and death. He alone is worthy to open the seals and rule. And so begins His reign. 

The scroll in Ezekiel relates to and is directed toward Israel.  After the letters to the church in chapters 2&3 inRevelation, the book is focused on the fulfillment of God's plan with Israel. 

The Gentiles were added to God's chosen through Israel's rebellion. Many more will be added through their obedience. 

Beyond All Comparison - 2Corinthians 4:16-18

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

We do not lose heart for we have already given our hearts to the one Who is able to save and strengthen these frail vessels. 

It becomes more clear and apparent as we age that life is fleeting. What is inconceivable when we are young becomes a reality as time unfolds.  The flower blooms and begins to fade. 

At some point a different reality comes into view and it grows clearer as time goes on.  Our outer self is just a seed that contains our inner being.  We renew and grow stronger the closer we come face to face with our lord.  More and more, the transient gives way to things eternal. 

This moment is but a moment, until we enter the coming glory that is beyond this life and all comparison. 

The Face Of Jesus - 2Corinthians 4:6

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV 

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Sharing His light has always been the goal of the Father of lights. The first command in Genesis was "Let there be light".  That light burst forth on the darkness of our earth.  We were formless and void, without hope, until the light of Jesus shone upon this world. 

The word of God took on the face of Jesus and the glory of God was revealed. 

Our light now shines in the darkness as we continue to follow in His steps.  We, the body of Christ, give witness through our testimony of a changed and new life. 

We have become the face of Jesus Christ. 

Let Me

Lord let me feel your presence, for it is there I am truly alive. 

You are always there and I seek to be the with you. 

Of The Earth - Revelation 21:22-27

Revelation 21:22-27 ESV 

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Mankind was expelled from the presence of God when Adam disobeyed. Through obedience we are able to return and regain that presence. We enter the gates of the New Jerusalem. 

It would appear from this passage there exists an earth outside of the New Jerusalem.  The light from God's presence goes out to the ends of earth from the city. The glory and honor of the nations are brought to the city in return. 

We participate and are part of that light, as are all children of light which comprise the body of Christ. 

Though the gates are never closed, it is only those who have found God and worship Him who may enter. 

The purpose of the Garden of Eden is fulfilled.  The charge of multiplying and subduing the earth has and is being carried out. 

The second Adam has become the tree of life.  All those who have eaten the bread from heaven have eaten from the tree of life. Jesus is the bread of life. 

There Soar

Step off the edge of this flat world into the kingdom of heaven, and there soar in the splendid atmosphere of the Living God. 

Through Him - 2Corinthians 1:20-22

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 ESV 

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

It is through God that we utter our Amen for He is the Amen, the word of God. Through His Son we are established, made whole and are given His righteousness for our own. He has anointed and sealed with His Spirit. 

A truer word has not been spoken. 

Solitude

A man enters the solitude of God and leaves the mass of the world, only to find the communion of God and the reality of the world to come.  It is there we find true companionship.  That ship is the ark of God, the body of Christ.  In its hold we safely float on the waters of the deep until the waters recede. 

We are privileged to see those two worlds at the same time. We realize what is yet to be has been spoken and is more real than what is before our eyes. 

In that solitude we find the voice of God and we are speechless. 

Hold Fast - 1Corinthians 15:1-2

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 ESV 

 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.

Most translations seem to imply that the gospel says that we are saved as a done deal, and in a way that is true.  It is often translated in the past tense, but the Greek uses the present tense. Our salvation is ongoing and something that is being done to us. 

For example the NIV translates these verses:

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NIV 

 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

The ESV uses the phrase "are being saved", which reflects its present tense. We are in fact being saved "if" we hold on to the word.  This is our work, that we cling to His word and endure so we will not be ashamed when He returns. 

We are a work in progress as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  Responding to "if" in the way we live according to His word is our testimony of Jesus.  As we keep going to Him, He keeps growing in us until we reach the full measure of His stature. 

The Dwelling Place Of God

In the Old Testament, the dwelling place of God is in a specific place. 

In the New Testament, the dwelling place of God is in the heart of His church.

It is still a specific place, though it is no longer geographical, but spiritual.  This becomes the New Jerusalem. 

To Endure It - 1Corinthians 10:11-13

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 ESV 

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

The basics of temptation were the same yesterday as they are today.  They are common to man.  We share the same skin and world.  The record of journeys that went before us are useful to us as we undertake our journey, which is the same journey everyone must make: to get from here to there. It is the great migration of our souls. 

Paul confirms that our life is filled with temptation.  God's plan is for us to choose Him and keep on choosing Him.  It is the endurance of the saints and the persevering to the end.  In doing this, we are able to at reach the promised land, our inheritance as children of God. 

God is for us.  He is with us and walks with us.  He has made a way, where there was no way.