God Never Leaves

     The Judge Samson was not what most parents would consider as a good example for their sons to follow.  And fathers would cringe at the thought of their daughters hanging out with a guy like him.  He was a man of very low moral fiber.  He used the strength that God gave him in order to avenge personal wrongs.  And, what‘s worse, he violated the three rules God required of him (not to drink fermented wine, not to touch anything unclean and not to cut his hair).  Yet God includes him in His list of great examples of faith (Hebrews 11:32).

     I have to wonder why.  What is it God wants me to learn from Samson?  Am I actually able to live life my way, killing people, violating my commitment to God and still be ok in the end?  No, that can’t be it.  There’s too much Scripture that warns against this kind of attitude (Romans 6:1).

     Am I able to use my God-given gifts for my own personal use and then expect God to help me in the end when I decide to call out to Him for one last favor?  No, that can’t be it either.  God created me to live a holy life fully dedicated to Him and His kingdom (1 Peter 2:5).  Maybe I don’t get it because I’m looking in the wrong place.  I should be looking at God, not Samson.

     You see, God used Samson to teach us about His grace.  Though this renegade Judge continually did things contrary to God’s design God never left him.  That is until Samson cut himself off from God.  Once his hair was cut, his final link to God was severed.  We too have made a commitment to God and if we cut ourselves off from His presence by continuing in our sin, God will leave us and we will be too weak to fight off our enemies.  When we remain in Him, He has promised to be with us always.

     We also learn from Samson that as long as we have life within us, we are able to turn back to God and He will hear us and respond.  Samson never regained his physical sight after his ordeal with the Philistines, but He had a restored heart that was finally willing to do God’s work.  With his last act on earth he tapped into God’s strength and brought about a long-overdue judgment on godless people.  The sign of Samson’s strength was in the length of his hair; for us it is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  By growing in these attributes, we will be connected to God’s strength and will have the confidence to overcome any obstacle (Philippians 4:13).

     Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God who is so patient and willing to overlook our faults and instead look at our hearts?  He has promised to do so.  Then you too can be included in His list of the faithful.  Return to Him for good and experience His empowerment firsthand. 

     And don’t listen to Satan: Samson’s life is proof that no amount or kind of sin is ever too BIG for God to forgive.

Doug