The Bible directs us to live our
lives for God in His strength. Without His Spirit, our own efforts will result
in weakness and failure. Saul ceased early to lean on God. His pride played on
his emotions, and he became churlish towards life, foolish in his behaviour and
careless in his obedience to God. We may not place a great deal of importance
on our transgressions, and dismiss or trivialise our sins against God, but if
they remain un-repented of, they will cause the demise of our moral being, and
eventually result in spiritual and eternal death. The scripture is clear, Saul
died for his transgression against Yahwah. Saul was guilty of a number of gross
sins, for which the Bible does not tell us, he ever repented. He usurped the
command of God, in the matter of the battle against the Amalekites; unjustly
pursued David, an innocent man, determined to kill him; commanded the senseless
slaughter of an innocent priest of God, and sought help from a woman practicing
the occult to find direction in life! He flew in God’s face with his
transgression, and remained at variance with God. Even if at times he was
emotionally stirred, it was but a temporary reprieve to his habit of
disregarding God’s law. All sin is worthy of death, and there is in essence, no
sin greater than another when it comes to its final result, but it is sin for
which we remain un-repented that will cause us to die the second death. Saul’s
departure from this world, was a dishonourable death, not such as was worthy of
a king and a man belonging to the people of God! While death is not of itself
anything to be necessarily wanted or desired, it can nevertheless take place
with honour, when it is the result of selfless sacrifice or service to the King
of Kings! Unless the Lord returns beforehand, we will all die physically at
some stage, but what will be the unwritten epitaph describing the real reason
for our decease? Let us live for God in such a way, that when we die, even in
death we may bring glory to the Lord and be a memory of the sweet savour of His
grace and of godly faithful service unto Jesus.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
No comments:
Post a Comment