Character Counts
1 Samuel 10:27 But some rebels said, "How can this man save us?" So they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
God’s Choice
We are often told that Saul was the choice that made sense to the children of Israel and that he was man’s choice to be king. However, the Bible says that he was God’s choice. In 1 Samuel 10:24 we read, “And Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?’” So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" It is true that he was taller than most and likely looked regal; but at the same time, he didn’t see himself as kingly material when Samuel first presented him to the people. Of course later because of disobedience, he was rejected by God. But when we first meet him, he is the one that the Lord has chosen to save Israel from their enemies. But there are always those whose heart God has touched and those who are rebels that resist the mind of God. The rebels said, “How can this man save us?”
Today
I find it interesting to compare the attributes of the Lord with the attributes of Satan. The Lord was full of grace and truth. He was humble. He died for us in order to save us. In spite of God’s hatred for sin, God loved sinners and was willing to sacrifice His own beloved Son in order to show that love while still maintaining the truth. The Lord was willing to submit to that plan as God’s Son. Satan on the other hand is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. At times he appears as a bear who looks harmless but who is certainly dangerous. He is called the Devil because he is evil. He is called Satan because he is an adversary. He is called a serpent because he is a subtle cunning deceiver. He is a liar and the originator (father) of lies. He is a murderer. But yet people follow him and in many cases they know that they are following evil. In other cases they are deceived by Him because of what he seems to be offering them.
The Lord cast out demons of men and women who were controlled by demons in the New Testament. Demons are Satan’s angels. We would call people controlled by demons mentally ill and that is probably true; but the real problem is often Satanic. We know that hallucinogenic drug use is one way Satan and his minions take control of people. But the problem is that many of the people who are controlled by Satan appear to be leaders who can “get things done.” But Satan is a destroyer and is called that in the book of the Revelation. In contrast, the Lord Jesus did not come to destroy but to save.
Int the thirteenth chapter of the book of Revelation, there is a man who is called a beast who will be energized by Satan. People will follow him thinking that he can solve the problems of the world. He will control the economy since they can’t buy or sell without his mark. He will control religion since he will demand worship, and he will control the world politically. People will follow him, but he will be a destroyer. In the eleventh chapter of the book of the Revelation, there will be two faithful witnesses who do miracles and who tell the people the truth who will be hated. The beast will be able to overcome and kill these two witnesses. So who is the winner and who is the loser? When the two witnesses die people party. But these two are caught up to heaven while the beast that killed them ends up being cast into the Lake of Fire forever and ever and ever and ever. Those who follow the beastt are condemned with him.
Character Counts
Whether we are looking for a political leader, a business leader or a spiritual leader, character counts. In this day and age, it seems that people think the liars and the bullies are the ones to trust with our well-being. If we trust in those who act like cunning serpents or like ferocious lions, we will end up being destroyed. We need to put our faith in the Lord and not in man to save us. I know the skeptics in our world are saying, “How can this man save us?” After all the Lord died on a cross and never raised an army He never even had a home of his own. But this man Who could have called twelve legions of angels to save himself, didn’t do that in order to save us. He may not save us from current political problems, and he may not save us from unemployment, and he may not save us from sickness (although He has the ability to save us from all of those things). But He will save us for eternity and He is the only One who can. He didn’t come into the world to condemn the world, He came to save the people in this world (John 3:17).
We all need to have our confidence for both time and eternity in the only One who can save us. Don’t be deceived by Satan and those who serve him. Character does count.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of November 12, 2017