The Lord has blessed each of my four children with different talents, and thankfully each of them possesses musical abilities. Whether it be vocal or instrumental, I sometimes sit in awe as I listen to them. Last Sunday, as I listened to my oldest son, Jon Groves, sing a solo called "It's Real", I sat there in tears. It was not just his vocal talent that made me a "proud mom", but the fact that he truly believes the words he was singing. I was given the privilege of leading him to the Lord eleven years ago, this month, and to my knowledge he has never doubted his salvation. With that in mind, I wanted to write something this week, just to him.
Though Jon is a godly young man, with a desire to follow the Lord's leadership in his life, he is still young yet, and certainly just as susceptible to Satan's snares as anyone. Having said that, I want to say how thankful I am for the Godly men, such as Jon's grandfathers, Rev. Charles W. Savage,II and Dr. Larry M. Groves (just to name a few) that the Lord has placed in my son's life to be an encouragement to him, as well as give him Godly counsel along the way. If you go to Jon's blog "Master Pianist" (you will find the link below) you can see Jon pictured with many of these faithful men. As his mother, watching him grow physically and spiritually, I know that he is a threat to Satan. I know that Satan will do his best to detour Jon so that he cannot have the kind of testimony that he needs to have for the Lord. So this weeks blog is dedicated to being a warning against the many snares that Satan will use to try to derail him.
The book of Judges contains the story of Samson. A man who God used to judge Israel. Samson was a man of great physical strength but morally he was very weak. His life was filled with conflict, as he made one poor decision after another. First, in Judges 14, we see him unequally yoked with a Philistine woman, though his parents warned him against it. "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." (Proverbs 7:1-2) This is beginning of several chapters in Proverbs that are dedicated to warning about the "strange woman." Next, we see him react with anger when he is done wrong (Judges 14:16 - 15:2) instead of giving God the vengeance that belonged to Him (Romans 12:19). And as we come to Judges 16, we see Samson's final defeat.....Delilah. I really hate to even give her that much credibility. Delilah was just an instrument, a pawn, that was used by the devil. It was truly his own lack of self-control that defeated Samson. As you read Judges 16 you will see this free man of God become a slave to a harlot.
SIN BINDS. (v.5-12)
It seems he didn't know himself as good as his enemies did. For even the Philistines knew Samson's weakness. You see son, the world will watch you . Your enemy never sleeps when you sleep. They will look for inconsistencies in your life, and they will push you every chance they get. Before you know it you are bound up in sin, and your testimony is destroyed. Why didn't Samson learn the first time? Because when you are backslidden on God you have very little spiritual discernment. Never forget, "A testimony kept is easier than a testimony regained." Many people have fallen into sin and been able to recover, but it is an uphill battle. I am not putting down the testimony of those who have fallen and are now able to use their experiences to help keep others from that same path. However, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a testimony of "I never have, I never did, or I never tasted, etc."
SIN BLINDS. (v. 21)
Samson lived by sight instead of faith. He was never truly happy with the things the Lord had blessed him with. His appetite could never be fully satisfied. He always thought there was something better out there than what he already had. Son, you cannot flirt with temptation, nor can you play with it without being burned. (Proverbs 6:27) When you cast all caution to the wind, you are sure to reap conflict in the whirlwind. The source of Samson's temptation was taken from him,... his sight. How sad when you read verse 20, "And he wist not the LORD was departed from him." He was so far away from God,..... he didn't even miss Him.
SIN BERATES or BELITTLES. (v. 25)
Samson became a mockery to the Philistines. Because of his testimony, God became a mockery to them as well (v.23). The Philistines thought their god was greater than Samson's. This world can only see God through us, son. We are supposed to be lights in this world. (Philippians 2:15) Lust (and all other sins of the flesh) is powerful! It takes away our common sense and decency and makes us its slave.
SIN BURIES. (v. 30)
Just because we have past victories in our life, does not guarantee future ones. We have to FLEE temptation. (James 4:7 & II Timothy 2:22) Samson's sin did NOT just affect him. When we, as Christians, decide to wallow in the muck and mire of this world, we not only tarnish our name, we tarnish God's name. Lost people died and went to hell the very same hour that Samson died.
Son, take heed to God's Word. God ALWAYS makes a way out! ALWAYS! ALWAYS! ALWAYS! (I Corinthians 10:12-13) Never let someone tell you they couldn't help it. You can help it. The best way to keep from sin, is NOT TO BE THERE! Proverbs 4:15 says, "Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." In other words, DON'T GO THERE!
Parents need to warn their sons and daughters to beware of strange women.
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