Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Samson (the strong man!) was called by God to be a witness for Christ in the "great controversy" between Christ and Satan. But was his life a success or a failure? To be honest you must answer, "both." As to saving his own soul, it was a success at the end, for he got himself into Hebrews 11 as someone who triumphed "by faith" (vs. 32; he "died with the Philistines," having had time to repent of his folly; Judges 16). Yes, his own soul was saved. But as a witness for Christ, his shameful life was a failure.
How about King David? As a witness for Christ in the great controversy with Satan, was he positive or negative? His affair with the lady Bathsheba put him squarely on Satan's side in that he gave testimony to the world that faith in Christ does not save from sin, only in sin. God had to tell him frankly, "By this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (2 Sam. 12:14). Yes, David repented, and his own poor soul was saved after his repentance described in Psalms 32 and 51.
But multitudes have "blasphemed" Christ through the ages because of the false witness David bore as "a man after God's own heart." He virtually proclaimed that Christ is not a Savior capable of saving one from the sin of lust. Many have the idea that the best you can do is to give in to this powerful and alluring temptation and then later weep and grovel and repent. You can have both, the sin and salvation too, is the idea.
How about Joseph in Egypt in Potiphar's house? Thank God for one story in the Bible of victory over alluring temptation! What held Joseph in that awful trial of his faith? He saw himself as a witness for Christ in the great controversy with Satan: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9). He was not concerned about saving his own soul! He was thinking of the honor and glory of Christ.
How about us? On this Day of Atonement the Holy Spirit is preparing a people worldwide who will "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," and honor Him. A new motivation has taken over their service for Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 to find it.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 5, 2002.
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