Room to Escape

Escape from Port-au-Prince Success!

What a fun week! Sara Blasko, our children's minister, and I constructed our very own KCC Escape Room. The idea came up as an evening activity for High School campers attending Wilderness Christian Assembly.  Three groups of campers came through it Monday evening and had a blast! This week the Escape room is open to anyone who wants to register at our church website and go through it. We're taking donations for a 2018 mission trip to Haiti. Ironically, the title of our escape room is "Escape from Port-au-Prince" which is the capital of Haiti!

What is an "escape room?" It's a very popular type of entertainment for groups of 4-8 people who are all "locked" in a room with 60 minutes. The goal is to solve a series of puzzles and locks using only clues and hints within the room and try to "escape" before time runs out. There are other variations from room to room, but that's the basic premise.

These escape rooms have popped up all over the U.S. Each room has a different theme and they vary in difficulty. Sadly, they aren't cheap. Participating in many escape rooms can run around $25 a person! But they have become very popular for birthday parties, bachelor parties, and the like.

As Christians, we face temptations that entrap us. Sin can be enticing, appealing, and attractive. While we try to resist, even the strongest follower can fall. And once we give in, it can be difficult to escape its grip. Paul described his struggle like this:

"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing."

Romans 7:18b-19

We can take comfort in knowing not only do other Christians face the same sins we do but so did Jesus Christ. There's not any temptation that has come against us, or that ever will, that has not been experienced by other human beings. Or as King Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun."

That leaves us all in the same spot - facing temptations that everyone experiences. What hope do we have? Here it is! Paul writes such a cool phrase to his son in the faith, Timothy, that many have committed it to memory.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Timothy 10:13

That's the key! That's the answer! God will provide a way out of your temptation so that you will not fall into sin! Just like going through an escape room, you can find that way out and escape your situation! When Potiphar's wife made unwanted sexual advances towards Joseph, he made his escape by running away! Every time we are tempted to sin, there is a way out. We just have to find it.

There is great satisfaction when a team escapes the room. It comes with a feeling of victory and accomplishment. Escaping from the wages of sin is no less rewarding. Pray that God will help you every time you face a temptation to find a way out!