Engaging in Self-Destruct Strategy?

Judges 16:4-21

Message No. 0681 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

I sat down in an aircraft this past week and as I was waiting for the crew to perform their pre-takeoff rituals, I grabbed their onboard sales magazine and began to flip through, perhaps I would learn something or see something that would be so exciting that I could point to and ask to see. As I flipped to the end of the magazine, I noticed the conspicuous tobacco adverts. Now, it is not strange for advertisers (especially advertisers of medical products) to spend a quarter of the time they have to tell you about the wonders of their product but spend the balance of three-quarters to tell you why you should not use the product, the tobacco adverts in this magazine had nothing positive to say. First, they had written in bold letters that smoking kills, which is not new as government regulations demand that they inscribe this on cigarette boxes. However, in addition, the advert contains the following words: “This tobacco product damages your health and is additive.” In other words, once you begin to take it, you must begin to put your house in order, because it’s just a matter of time.

I was unable to get this out of my mind after seeing it, as I began to ask, why would anyone who does not intend to die by suicide spend his or her hard-earned money to buy a product that is screaming at you and saying, ‘Don’t buy me!’ or worse, ‘Buy me and die!’? In a world where 21 percent of all new cancer cases is lung cancer and 90 percent of lung cancer cases is caused by smoking, 127,000 people die annually of lung cancer in the US alone, the question is, why smoke? What is the benefit in cigarette sticks that people are willing to die for?

As I thought about these things and asked myself those questions, I remembered a parallel story in the Bible. The Bible says that God created Samson specifically to deal with the Philistines who had been the archenemies of the Israelites for at least 40 years as of the date Samson was born. If the Bible did not say that Samson was possessed of the Holy Spirit, everyone would conclude that he had more than 100 legions of demons on the inside. He uprooted iron gates of the city and carried them away on his solders. He was powerful, swift, and decisive. He was terror to the Philistines, just as God had intended. However, there was just one problem; Samson loved strange women and it did not matter how much his parents warned and tried to dissuade him from this abominable behavior, he would not take no for answer.

Samson continued his reckless behavior for years and began to think that he was invincible. Then, to crown it all, he fell in love with Delilah, whom the lords of the Philistines had hired to find out the source of his power so they might destroy him. On her part, Delilah did not pretend. She told Samson very clearly, please tell me the source of your power so I can take it away and get my people to torment you. If you think that I am making this up, see her exact words in Judges chapter 16 verse 6:

So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you."

Now, any normal human being who hears this would run away, isn’t it? Well, not Samson. He stayed there and started playing games with his life and mission, and with each iteration, Delilah actually carried out what she had threatened, yet Samson did not think it was apparent that she wanted his blood. Samson engaged in this self-destruct strategy until he, in fact, got himself destroyed.

Just as the smoker who reads the screaming warnings on the label and still buys the cigarette, self-destruct practices are not uncommon in our world today. There are people who know very clearly that they are on a collision course with trouble, yet they continue to travel their routes without repentance. Some are addicted to immorality of all sorts, stealing, sexual pervasion, destructive anger, pride, drug abuse, drunkenness, and others, and it does not matter how many signs they have received to give up their lifestyles, they have refused to repent. Sometimes they tell you that they are making efforts, whereas God is not interested in efforts, but in repentance. Is it worth it to continue the path that we know would lead to painful consequences?

If you are engaged in a lifestyle that you know is contrary to God’s will, the only sensible action you can take is to stop. You may be saying well I’ve been doing it for years and getting away with it. Remember as it is said that everyday is for the thief and one day for the owner. You do not want to wait until it is too late to take a decision that would be of benefit to you today. There is no positive outcome in working against God. I encourage you to go before God in repentance and stop. As the Bible says, now is the acceptable time, today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1).

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 PLEASE ACT NOW:
 If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
 Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!