Samson’s recklessness
– It is the thinking that he can keep a small area of darkness to himself. As long as he has it under control; it doesn’t harm anyone; he is performing his duty; and it is contained; he should be able to get away with it.
David’s recklessness
– He was so preoccupied with covering up that he ignored all the warning signs, knocked down guardrails, and ran over barricades.
– Darkness spreads in his life from one area to another, and to another.
Ahab’s recklessness
– He used the law to kill a person whom the law was given to protect. He kept the code of the law but violate the spirit of the law.
Deception & Falsehood
– A common thread between the lives of these people is that they have all resorted to deception and falsehood to fulfill a desire in their hearts.
– Samson lied multiple times. David covered up his adultery. Ahab created falsehood to get a vineyard.
– At the end of Ahab’s life, we see how his deception was turning against him. He was becoming delusional.
Delusion
– Definition: A false belief held despite strong evidence against it; self-deception.
– When a person is becoming delusional, it no longer matters to him whether something is real or not, true or not; whether something is from God, from the devil, or from his twisted inner self; so long as it serves the purpose, satisfies a desire, and lets him off the hook, he will believe it.
Deception and spiritual forces
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. … Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He … does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:42-44)
An invitation to examine our lives. This may be a good time for us to examine our lives.
– Who am I?
– What is my true calling?
– Which direction is life taking me right now?
– When I am afraid, when I have done something wrong, whom will I turn to?
– Will I turn to the dark side, resorting to deception, lies, and falsehood to protect myself?
– Am I on the path of light?
– Or am I on a path of darkness?
– How far along that path am I?
An invitation to repent and come home
Please take a moment to confess any darkness that you may have harboured in your life.
Use this as your prayer of repentance:
