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GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS 06-05-03

Why Not Be a Prodigal?: Part 5

Allen Webster

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Sin cost Samson his honor (16:25). What others think of us is not as important as what God thinks of us, but it is important. Influence is one of a Christian's most valuable treasures. It is to be guarded even at great cost. As Nehemiah said in the long ago: "...ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" (5:9). The Christian's light must never lose its sparkle; his salt must never lose its flavor (Mt. 5: 14-16); his leaven must never lose its contagion (Mt. 13:33). He must use "sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say ..." (Tit. 2:8). She should "...give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" (1 Tim. 5:14). He should have his "...conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:12; cf. 2:15; 3:16). Don't let sin steal your honor and thus your influence. Let vigilance keep her constant watch lest you lose your power to lead others to Christ.

Sin cost Samson his peace of mind. Because he chose to live among the Philistines, and was constantly pursued by them, his life was filled with turmoil. Jacob pillowed his head on a stone, and found rest (Gen. 28:18), but a sinner with a functioning conscience can lay his on a goose-down feather pillow and find none (Prov. 13:15; cf. Ecc. 2:23; Rm. 3:16- 18). "There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked (Isa 48:22). He lies on his bed wishing he could undo the past but knowing that the clock of life cannot be reversed. He closes his eyes to try to change the subject but the mind flutters only to light again on the same rotting carcass of sin's memory. He finally drifts into fitful sleep only to waken with the first thought of the sin that is ever before him wishing it were a dream but knowing it is all too real. "The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor ... Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle" (Job 15:20, 24). Rest comes hard to a conscience pricked with a thousand needles of guilt. What an "evil and bitter thing sin is" (Jer. 2: 19)!

Sin cost Samson his companions. Samson enjoyed people- especially women. When sin was done with him, he sat in a lonely Gaza prison cell. Sin and separation go together. Sin often leaves us lonely. It divides us from God (Isa. 59:1, 2), our families (Gen. 19), ourselves (the self we can respect) (Gal. 5: 17-23; Rm. 7: 18-25), our Christian friends (2 Thes. 3:6), and often from any friends. How many friends would you guess the prodigal had in the pigpen?

Sin cost Samson his life. "Samson, how long do you want to live?" “A long time. I want to die an old man. I want to see my children grow up and enjoy my grandchildren, “he would have replied. How did it turn out? Samson died young-probably at about forty1. Most other Bible characters lived longer. Why the shortened pilgrimage? Sin cost him more than he wanted to pay. Sin brings death today, too. The soul that sinneth shall die (Ezek. 18:20). The wages of sin is death (Rm. 6:23). In the end sin always "brings forth death" (Jas. 1: 15) as all unforgiven sinners will experience the second death (Rev. 2 1:8).

Like Balaam, Samson's affections were often divided between doing what was right and doing what he wanted (Num. 22; Jd. 13-1 6). Like King Saul of Israel, Samson had a promising beginning and a tragic end (1 Sam. l5:3 1; Jd. 13:24, 25; 16:21-30). Like Solomon, his love of foreign women ultimately destroyed him (1 Kgs. 11:l-3; Jd. 14:l-3; 16.1-21).

Forgiveness is wonderful. This series is not about forgiveness, though; it is about sin. Forgiveness of the guilt of sin is different from freedom from the consequences of sin. We all live downstream from sin's consequences. David repented of his sin with Bathsheba (Psa. 5 l), but the sword never departed from his house (2 Sam. 11: 10-1 3). Esau repented of selling his birthright, and sought it again with tears, but was unable to retrieve it (Heb. 12: 17). Sin has consequences, too. You might throw that pack of cigarettes away, but you'll have to fight desperately not to stop at the convenience store on the way home to buy another one. You might repent of doing drugs, but your body will still crave a fix. You might throw your porno movies away, but you'll never go into another video store without wanting to peruse the "mature aisle." You may repent of having sex with your girlfriend, but that will not make either of you sexually pure again-or her any less pregnant. You might repent of drinking, but that won't bring back the guy that got killed in the car wreck.

A father was concerned that his son, who always seemed to be in hot water, would get into serious trouble when he got older. He worked on ways to change his behavior. Finally he hit upon an idea that struck a cord with the boy. Every time the boy got into trouble, he was sent out with a hammer to drive a nail into a post his father had placed in the front yard. It was not many days until the post looked like a porcupine! After about a week, the boy began to act better and seemed concerned about the nails in the post. Finally, he approached his father and asked how they could be removed. He thought for a moment and said, "Every time you do a good deed, I'll let you take one out." He seemed pleased and in few days all the nails were gone. Still, his father saw him staring at the post. He asked him why since there were no nails in the post. The boy said, "The nail scars are still there.” So it is. We can remove sin's guilt, but its scars may remain for a long time.

Yes, sin will teach you more than you want to know; take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Stay home.

1 He judged Israel twenty years (Jd. 16:30), and seems to have started judging when he was probably in his late teens (still at his father's house).