Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The great King David had fallen from his dizzy height of honor into the dreadful pit of adultery, and then gone further into sin by a deed of murder to cover it up. He felt that he was lost forever. His nights were filled with tears. He says, "Day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer" (Psalm 32:4).
It's vivid writing: he thinks of a killer drought when every drop of moisture is dried up; that's his heart!
People sometimes misunderstand the story of King David. They know that the Lord still loved him and forgave him his sin, and they read into the story the wrong idea of a license to sin. They say, "King David was forgiven his sexual sin; now go ahead and do it, don't worry, the Lord will forgive you, too."
But that's the wrong way to read David's story. Yes, the Lord forgave him; but let us note, David came within a millimeter of losing his soul forever. He cries out in anguish, "My sin is ever before me. ... Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me" (51:3, 11).
David actually tasted the horrid anguish of being in hell forever. There is nothing worse to experience than being forsaken by the Lord. How would one feel being dumped on the moon all alone forever? David tasted that; he'd had enough. Never again did he want to transgress the holy law of God.
No, don't do that evil deed that your lustful heart craves. Satan can never force you to do it; and remember that the temptation to do it is not the sin of doing it. But Jesus says that the deed can be done in the heart if it is your choice to do it when the opportunity comes.
Here's where the little Book of Titus comes into focus: "The grace of God [not craven fear!] ... teaches us to say 'No!' to ungodliness and worldly lusts" (2:11, 12; NIV). The battle with the sin of lust is won in the heart by choosing "in Christ" to be loyal to Him, learning how to say "No!" Satan has to depart; you are the boss. The Lord Jesus has set us all free from sin. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again ..." (Gal. 5:1).
Sometimes standing still is great progress.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 15, 2008.
Copyright © 2012 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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