Samson (the strong man!) was called by God to be a witness for Christ in the "great controversy between Christ and Satan." Question: Was his life a success or a failure? To be honest you must answer, "both." As to saving his own little soul, it was a success at the end, for he got himself into Hebrews 11 as someone who triumphed "by faith" (vs. 32; he "died with the Philistines," having had time to repent of his folly; Judges 16). Yes, his own little soul was saved. But as a witness for Christ, his shameful playboy life was a failure. How about King David? As a witness for Christ in the great controversy with Satan, was he positive or negative? His affair with the lady Bathsheba put him squarely on Satan's side in that he gave testimony to the world that faith in Christ does not save FROM sin, only IN sin. God had to tell him frankly, "By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14). Yes, David repented, and his own poor little soul was saved after his repentance described in Psalms 32 and 51; but multitudes have "blasphemed Christ" through the ages because of the false witness he bore as "a man after God's own heart." He virtually proclaimed that Christ is not a Savior capable of saving one FROM the sin of lust (think of the multitudes today dying of AIDS who are professed Christians). Many have the idea that the best you can do is to give in to this powerful and alluring temptation and then later weep and grovel and repent. You can have both, the sin and salvation too, is the idea.
How about Joseph in Egypt in Potiphar's house? Thank God for ONE story in the Bible of victory over alluring sexual temptation! What held Joseph in that awful trial of his faith? The answer: he saw himself as a witness FOR Christ in the "great controversy with Satan." "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9). He was not concerned about saving his own soul! He was thinking of the honor and glory of Christ. How about us today? On this Day of Atonement the Holy Spirit is preparing a people worldwide who will "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," and honor HIM. A new motivation has taken over their service for Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 to find it. --Robert J. Wieland --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
