The past
couple of days I have read about how Absalom (David’s son) did all he could to
overthrow his father as king. Part of me was wondering how he could do that to
the man who raised him, his own father! Today as I came to the close of the
story I became painfully aware of something. This is also a reflection of what
we do with God!
Absalom
started his quest by giving the people of the nation a false idea of who his
father was. He spent 40 years building false ideas about the King, and portraying
himself as a caring, understanding man who would do a better job.
I could
not help but think about how often we as God’s people many times give those
around us a false idea of what God is truly like! When God is not running
things in life the way we think they should be run, we often throw “pity parties”
that seem to suggest we think we know a better way and God is not fit to be
King of our lives!
We see
from God’s Word how Absalom tramples to the ground any thoughts of love and
respect for the King in his efforts to pursue his own vendetta. I see this
portrayed in our own lives in two different ways.
Firstly,
we often personally trample down any thoughts of love and respect for God in
our pursuit of accomplishing our own dreams and goals. As we become more and
more involved with fulfilling our own lusts and dreams, we will find that they
gradually, bit by bit push our relationship with God to the side.
Second, we
can also affect the way those around us view God by the way we interact and
respond in our relationship with Him. If we live our lives be a “lukewarm”
Christian, will those around us be encouraged to seek God as their own personal
Father and King of their lives?
The story
ends with an all-out battle for the throne, which, of course, Absalom not only
lost, but forfeited his life as well. Yet the King, his father, mourned deeply
for him, crying out that he wished he could have died in the place of the
simple, arrogant son.
How often
the same happens with us! We will actually battle with the Lord for first place
in our lives! For the right to go, or do, or say whatever we want. In the end,
if we do not yield ourselves to Him, we will end up lost, caught up in the
snares of the world, just hanging there is an open target for the enemy. (Just
as Absalom was caught up in the trees by his own hair, hanging there is an open
target for his enemies.)
The
sobering truth is, even as David loved and grieved for his son, even after all
he did, so God loves us, and grieves for us when we refuse His love and
leadership in our own lives. Wow! What an indescribable love!
There may
be some of you reading this that have never experienced the blessing of that Amazing
Love. That’s okay! There is nothing so simple or rewarding as accepting Christ
in a personal way. Think of it as easy as the A, B, C’s!
A – First
of all, we need to realize and Admit
that we are sinners in need of the Savior, and that there is no true good or
righteousness in us.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” – Romans
3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – Romans
3:23
ALL sin, even the tiniest stretch of
truth, is enough to separate us eternally from God and damn us into the lowest
pits of hell. There is NOTHING we can do in our own strength to re-attach that
separation.
B
– Secondly, we need to Believe
that Jesus Christ was sent by God His Father in love, into this world to save
sinners.
“But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believe that in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” – John 3:16 – 17
Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life
on this earth, but as He trudged up the hill to Calvary ,
EVERY sin of EVERY person; past, present, and future, was placed on Him. He
took upon himself the burden so great and vile, His Father, the God of all that
is holy and righteous, could not even look on Him. As Christ hung on the cross
and died, He died for the sins of all mankind. How great a love God
demonstrated to us, that He would send His ONLY Son to die for OUR SINS.
“Knowing this, that our old man (our
old sinful self) is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin.” – Romans 6:6
C
– Last but not least, we are to Confess
our sins to Christ, repenting of (to turn fully away from) our past life of sin
and service to self, and accepting Christ as our Savior. Through His blood, he
washes are grimy, sinful souls as white as the freshly fallen snow. Just as the
snow covers the black, natural dirt on the ground, Jesus covers us with His
blood so that all God sees when He looks on us is the pure whiteness of the
righteousness of Christ.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in my heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For with the heart man believe it unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.” – Romans 10:9 – 10
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
– Romans 10:13
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according
as it is written, He that Gloria, let him glory the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30
– 31
If
you have accepted Christ as your personal savior, it is also important to
confess that He is now Lord of your life and your personal Savior to others. If
you are not already a member of a strong, Bible – believing church, your first
step should be to find and join one as soon as possible. While a relationship
with the Lord is fulfilling in itself, joining a Body of local Believers will
enable you to get encouragement and doctrinal assistance as you grow in Christ.
Note: If any of you have been
encouraged and/or come to Christ via this article, I would love to know! Please
drop me a line so I can rejoice with you and be praying for you! If you are
interested in learning more about Christ and what He has done for you, and all
He offers in a life – long relationship with Him, please contact us via our
family ministry email:
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