The Reformed Life

We’ve all heard it—maybe even said it: “I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”

Parents say it. Coaches say it. Pastors say it. It’s often met with an eye-roll, shrug, or a sarcastic “Okay Boomer.” We assume we’ll be the exception. We’ll handle things better. But in 1 Corinthians 10:6–14, the apostle Paul speaks with that same urgent tone—and he wants the church to pay attention.

He points back to Israel’s wilderness journey and says, “These things took place as examples for us” (v.6), and again, “They were written down for our instruction” (v.11). Paul wants us to learn from their failures, not repeat them. The Corinthians, like us, are walking through their own kind of wilderness—not a desert filled with sand, but a world filled with temptations, tests, and trials until Christ returns. And Paul is saying, “Don’t brush this off. Don’t think you’re above it.”

Let’s take a closer look at the four dangers Paul highlights, and ask whether we’re guilty of the same today.

1. Idolatry (v.7)

“Do not be idolaters as some of them were…”

We may not be bowing down to golden calves, but we are surrounded by idols of comfort, success, pleasure, politics, entertainment, and self. Idolatry is anything we love, serve, or trust more than God. An idol is anything you give your heart to more than Christ. Idolatry today isn’t merely about statues (although that’s certainly still true), it’s about substitutes. What our hearts cling to in secret is what we truly worship. 

Reflect:

• What consumes my thoughts, energy, or affection more than Christ?
• Am I shaping my view of God around my desires, or shaping my desires around God’s truth?

2. Sexual Immorality (v.8)

“We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did…”

Our culture not only permits sexual sin—it celebrates it. Yet God’s call hasn’t changed. Purity matters. Holiness matters. Not because God is trying to withhold good, but because He wants to protect us from destruction. The world tells us to “follow our hearts”; God tells us to guard them. What the culture applauds often leads to what Scripture warns against. Purity isn’t just about what you avoid; it’s about what (or who) you pursue. 

Reflect:

• Am I minimizing or justifying sexual sin in my life—online, in relationships, or in my mind?
• How can I pursue purity, not just abstain from impurity?

3. Testing Christ (v.9)

“We must not put Christ to the test…”

Testing Christ is like saying, “How far can I go before God gets angry?” It’s presuming on His grace while disregarding His lordship. It’s choosing sin, expecting mercy, and thinking obedience is optional. Presuming upon grace is just as bad as rejecting it. Testing Christ asks, “How far can I go and still be okay?” Faith doesn’t play with fire, it walks in the fear of the Lord. As the Proverb says, “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned (Prov. 6:27)?” 

Reflect:

• Am I testing the limits of God’s patience or living in joyful submission to Him?
• Do I view God as a holy King to be worshiped, or as a genie to be used?

4. Grumbling (v.10)

“Nor grumble, as some of them did…”

We don’t often think of complaining as a spiritual problem—but it is. Grumbling exposes hearts that are ungrateful and unbelieving. It says, “God, I don’t like what You’ve given me. I know better.” Complaining is often the sound of a heart that’s forgotten grace. Gratitude glorifies God; grumbling questions His goodness. 

Reflect:

• Do I regularly express gratitude or do I live in a posture of discontentment?
• What does my speech say about my view of God?

A Final Word: Take Heed and Take Hope

Paul’s warning leads to a sobering reminder: “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (v.12)

We are never so spiritually mature that we’re immune to temptation. Pride is often the first step toward a fall. But Paul doesn’t leave us in despair—he lifts our eyes to hope: “God is faithful… with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape…” (v.13)There’s always a way out. Always. Whether you’re tempted by lust, pride, bitterness, or compromise, God’s faithfulness is greater than your weakness. 

So what’s the call?

Run. Run from sin. Run from idols. Run toward Christ. The call isn’t to survive the wilderness—it’s to trust the One who’s already conquered it. “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (v.14)

Reflection Questions for the Journey:

1. Which of the four warnings do I struggle with the most?
2. How does pride make me blind to areas of vulnerability?
3. Where have I seen God provide a way of escape? Did I take it?
4. What idols am I clinging to that I need to flee from today?
5. What steps can I take this week to walk more closely with Christ?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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