This week I had a conversation with an old friend (for now let me call him Chris) I had in flying school. He was in tears seeing how bad he has made a total mess of his life. He says he is not the guy he used to be before joining flying school. He had moved out of his parent’s house, attended every party in town, started drinking and smoking; he has been very Aggressive and a bit of a Manic. He says he feels so lost. Speaking from his heart Chris told me that he feels like he is in a prison.
I feel Chris, I was never involved in all that but at some point I felt like my life was on autopilot. All that happened was a continuous cycle of friend’s parties; school, followed by a complete and utter lack of fulfillment by the way I don’t miss that life. I wanted more, not necessarily in the material sense of personal wealth and success. I wanted more out of life. I wanted a passion a conceptual dream that wouldn’t let me sleep out of pure excitement. I wanted to spring out of bed in the morning, rain or shine, and have that zest for life that seemed so intrinsic in early childhood….. Back to Chris, he said he feels like God has a book full of his sins and felt like it was too late for him. That can be a very scary statement if it’s true.
Just Relax and let God be God.
His story reminded me of Samson in the bible. Samson’s divine destiny is underscored by the fact that he was an unlikely candidate, born to a sterile mother of a subject people, after an angelic visitation and promise. He grew, and the Lord blessed him, and the spirit of the Lord began to stir him. Despite his weaknesses, his anger, his hotheadedness, his weakness for women, God continues to show him favor .His attraction to women repeatedly overcomes his better judgment. Sadly, he is still not capable of learning from his mistakes. He falls in love with another Philistine woman, Delilah, and continues trusting her, despite repeated proofs of her treachery toward him. Finally, when he risks the symbol of his consecration to God his long hair which Delilah shears, we are told “the Lord left him.” However, the Lord does not entirely abandon his flawed servant. His hair grows again. His heart turns towards God.
Samson couldn’t see the light of day without his eyes, but he came to see the truth that the way of this world and sin does not pay. He saw the sorry mess he had made of himself and was willing to let God work his will through him. He fervently prayed and asked God to hear him. God did. God always hears such heart-felt, humble prayers. Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He then bowed himself with all his might against the two pillars. His muscles bulged, quivered, and filled with greater God given strength than ever before.
Just like I told Chris, The God of Samson has no such book full of your sins. Instead, He has open arms and a loving, tender heart full of mercy waiting for you to make the total commitment to repent and obey Him! God was not only still willing to hear and forgive Samson, but God was still willing to use him in doing His work of deliverance for Israel. It doesn’t matter what kind of mistakes you have made. No matter how bad your past is, if you are willing to totally submit your life to your God in Heaven, there is hope for you. If God could forgive Samson, redeem his life, and use him mightily; won’t he do the same for you and me? He will if we let Him so Just Relax and let God be God.
