Brethren, as we read in a previous issue of The Reformation Messenger, an article entitled, “Where is Jesus?” We have been warned, “It is our work to know our special failings and sins, which cause darkness and spiritual feebleness, and quenched our first love.” –The Review and Herald, June 7, 1887

VERY STRONG AND AT THE SAME TIME VERY WEAK

Let us ask ourselves, “Am I strong and at the same time very weak? The Bible tells us in the book of Joshua 14:10–11, “And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”

Are you still strong in the faith?

The Lord desires His children to be strong in the faith they have professed. Each and every child of God will be tried to see if his faith is strong. Some endured at one point but at the next point they show their weakness. The Lord requires us to take hold of His strength, that He may make peace for us and then our faith will be strong.  (Isaiah 27:5).

IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR SIN

Many Christians commit sin and they make excuses because they want to hide their sin. Every day people in positions of trust make decisions on which depend results of great importance. There will be no excuse for those who choose to go in error when they can understand what is truth. In His sufferings and death Jesus made an atonement for all sins of ignorance, but there is no provision made for willful blindness.

Below we find a story of a man in the Bible who was called from his mother’s womb for a special purpose but he failed to fulfill his sacred trust and the consequence was grave.

Manoah and his wife were being instructed by the Angel on how they were to care for their child. Judges 13:3–5, 24–25. “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and barest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

In the Spirit of Prophecy we read,  “A lesson to mothers—Many whom God would use as His instruments have been disqualified at their birth by the previous wrongs habits of their parents. When the Lord would raise up Samson as a deliverer of His people, He enjoined upon the mother correct habits of life before the birth of her child.” –The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary,  vol. 2, p. 1005

The statement continues, “In instructing this one mother, the Lord gave a lesson to all who should be mothers to the close of time. Had the wife of Manoah followed the prevailing customs, her system would have been weakened by violation of nature’s laws, and her child would have suffered with her the penalty of transgression.” –Ibid., p. 1005

Moses betrayed his trust in God in one moment. Men of all future time must see the God of heaven as an impartial ruler who does not justify sin. Unfortunately, only a few realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Men flatter themselves that God is too good to punish the transgressor. But in the light of Bible history it is evident that God’s goodness and His love show how He is; He deals with sin as an evil blow to the peace and happiness of the universe.

Many people today transgress the laws of God willfully. They say man does not have the power to overcome. But the Bible says that “sin is the transgression of [God’s] law.” 1 John 3:4. All sins are equal, being small or large. They all forfeit the opportunity of being in heaven.

“All who profess godliness are under the most sacred obligation to guard the spirit, and to exercise self-control under the greatest provocation. The burdens placed upon Moses were very great; few men will ever be so severely tried as he was; yet this was not allowed to excuse his sin. God has made ample provision for His people: and if they rely upon His strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 421

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempeth He any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13–15

“What a change to him who had been the judge and champion of Israel!—now weak, blind, imprisoned, degraded to the most menial service! Little by little he had violated the conditions of his sacred calling. God had borne long with him; but when he had so yielded himself to the power of sin as to betray his secret, the Lord departed from him. There was no virtue in his long hair merely, but it was a token of his loyalty to God; and when the symbol was sacrificed in the indulgence of passion, the blessings of which it was a token were also forfeited.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 566

How many times have you lost your sacred trust? Samson was the strongest man who ever lived, but he was very weak in the indulgence of passion. Are you also following the same course as Samson? Let us use Samson as an example. Samson failed where Joseph conquered; and what a sad history for Samson for the remainder of his life. Many Christians are also pursuing the same course as Samson and at the end their life history is very sad.

“Willful sin caused loss of strength—Had Samson’s head been shaven without fault on his part, his strength would have remained. But his course had shown contempt for the favor and authority of God as much as if he had in disdain himself severed his locks from his head. Therefore God left him to endure the results of his own folly.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1007

“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:28

May God bless us while we mediate on these lessons for spiritual uplifting, in Jesus’ name Amen. Grace be with you all.

Jenifer Akello, Uganda