1 Kings 3:3 Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the instructions of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local altars -
How does the world know we love the Lord? How do they know we are different, called, set apart and we are sojourners here? By our attitude, thoughts, intentions, actions, words, deeds...in essence by every aspect of our life, real living in this world.
Yes, we do our best to do everything as we do unto God but is there a 'Solomon-self' in us that hides behind ‘none perfect but Him’? Is that an excuse that prevents us from the relentless pursuit of God's perfection and God's holiness?
If the verse above would be written of us, what would be included in the “exception” list? Don't need to tell anyone but ask yourself? Sometimes, it could be just one item like the way it was in Solomon’s life. Solomon excelled in everything he did pleasing the Lord except one. That one thing led to another and ultimately not only to his own destruction and fall but also to the destruction of Israel as a nation for generations to come, for centuries to come. Shame that a man of indomitable wisdom, a man chosen by God to build HIS temple, a man who was blessed and protected by God in all his borders ended his life in a shameful way.
Dearly beloved, God can protect you from everything around you but not from you yourself. We still have the free will to use and choose. How are you using it? How are your choices?
Are you counting on the day of your salvation still? Are you still talking of the visions and leadings of the yester years? Are you still singing old glory for there is none now? Be watchful, it all started as a small slip in Solomon's life under the cover of 'love'. He justified to himself as helping God to enlarge Gods kingdom. But in essence Solomon was establishing and enlarging his own kingdom of pleasure, territory and influence and God was not there.
Every *'ites (1 Kings 11:1) God forbid Israel from indulging, Solomon did (1 Kings 11:2-4). Little by little throughout his life, Solomon allowed himself the indulgence of lustful exceptions and paid a heavy price for it not only in his own life but in the history of Israel for generations and centuries to come. Yes, intentional and deliberate sin resulted in generational impact on his own family and kingdoms to come.
Solomon excelled as no other king before or since - but all his excelling led to a miserable end as he allowed his wives to turn his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:4). The same Solomon who built the adorable temple for the Lord, as commissioned by Him built so many pagan altars even right around Jerusalem itself that was an abomination to the Lord! (1 Kings 11:7) The very loyalty his father David pleaded with him at deathbed, Solomon lost (1 Kings 2:3)
Sometimes we pamper ourselves, allowing too much spiritual leeway. We should show our love to the Lord more by dealing with our “Solomon mindset”. Little by little throughout his long life, Solomon allowed himself the indulgence of exceptions. Are you? Whether it be the opposite sex, material possessions, wealth, fame, success, or anything else, each of us has to deal with our own “Solomon self”.
Have you heard of ‘Beachhead’? It’s a defended position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched. A little flirting here, a little self-indulgence there, a little cheating on monies, a little gossiping on others, and the evil one establishes a beachhead in our thinking and in our disciplines.
Enemy does not need an external place/platform to launch attack, he will do so from within you, in the little space that you've provided, the little door that you've opened. Even without us realizing, we let go of godliness, lose direction and let other priorities, possessions and people take control of our lives. It’s a slow poison, erosion that starts small, progresses unnoticeably through every day choices and decisions rather than a sudden fall.
If we persist in hearing, listening and obeying His word, we will hear his still, small voice reminding us, “No exceptions.” (Isaiah 30:21)
Comentários