For My Son

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.

March On!

"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it may be well with them, and with their children for ever!" (Deut.5:29)

Have you ever reached a point in your Christian life where you just wanted to "chuck it all" and live like other people live? You're sick and tired of being the one who lives responsibly and seeks to bring honor and glory to God! You are weary of explaining yourself and certain verses of the Bible, to the exact same people, over & over again, and it seems like they NEVER get it! At that moment in your life, living a godly testimony seems futile. You ask yourself, "Is it really worth it?"

People today live life as if there is no tomorrow. They throw all caution to the wind, without hesitation, and give absolutely no thought to the future consequences their choices might bring. Nor do they consider the effect it may have on those around them. The words "no fear" have left being a way to encourage someone to be adventurous and have become a way of life. Sadly, this frame of mind has crept into the spiritual realm as well, as we see God's people no longer clinging to truth and righteousness. The new motto is: NO REGARD, NO REMORSE, and NO REPENTANCE.

How else could you explain a world where teenagers (GIRLS, mind you) beat each other to a pulp and record it for later viewing pleasure? Or a world where grown men rob a bank (because they are to lazy to work) and shoot a pregnant teller, killing her unborn children. And what do we do to stop this? Do we get mad? Do we take a stand? No, we get nationally known "psychologists" to post their bail in hopes of "helping" the wrong-doer change their ways (or get good TV ratings, whichever) and we debate whether or not the murdered babies were actually "human or just a fetus" at time of death. It sickens me.

While the above mentioned acts are horrendous, they are no worse than those who claim to be "God's people" while they live just like the world. Parents letting their children run with unsaved and ungodly friends. Homes torn apart by husbands and/or wives desserting their families for selfish, and sexual sins. Drinking, smoking, drugs, even illicit affairs are no longer considered "worldly" and in some cases are even condoned and kept secret by God's people! Whoremongers, adulterers, thieves, liars, and unthankful people are EVERYWHERE, even in the church. Does this sound familiar? There's a whole list in II Timothy 3. And, sad as all this is, ... it's a sign. YES! That is exactly what I said, it's a sign! Of what you ask? THE LAST DAYS. Yipee! Hooray! Praise God! The LORD, ... MY Lord is coimg back!

So, let me encourage you who are weary of fighting the fight. Take heart, you who feel you cannot possibly take another step. Be of good cheer, you who want to "chuck it all." The Bible says,

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5:8-11)

As we live out the last days in Christ's army, there is no room for cowardess, no room for quitters! We must continue to reach those who will listen, and those who have never heard (and some who have heard it over & over) while there is still time. March on dear soldier! Let your motto be: NO RESERVES, NO REGRETS, and NO RETREATS!

(1 Thess. 4:15-18) "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."