Avoid Delusional Conclusions

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 23:7-8, And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

How sad it is to be in such a state of sinfulness and separation from God that we not even realize how far off our thinking is when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Saul had convinced himself that somehow God had overlooked all his wickedness and that He had finally delivered David and his men into his hands. This is not to say that God would not have forgiven Saul and remained with him throughout his reign. The problem was that Saul refused to repent and confess his sins and continued to move further and further away from the Lord. His pathetic state of being had convinced him that God’s favor was now shining down upon him and that he would finally trap David. These delusional conclusions are not uncommon today. There are far too many of God’s people venturing out to do things that God has not sent them out to do or accomplish, but because of greed, self-indulgence, and selfishness, many Christians have convinced themselves that God has given them permission to chase after the things of this world without consequence. Sadly, many of these same Christians end up getting upset with God, as if He were depriving them of some blessing they think they deserve, when all any of us deserve is eternal condemnation. We must be careful that we not attempt to use the Lord’s Name like some lucky charm when we pray for that which we desire, that is not a need or that does not line up with God’s will. James 4:1-4 cannot be any clearer, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” To make matters worse, Saul did not just invite others to participate in his wicked ways, he ordered them. One of the dangers that exists when we stray from the Lord and venture out to do things that are not only not part of God’s will, but also against God’s will, is that we invite others to participate in our wayward, delusional plans. Saul made the people participants in an act that was not God’s will and that put them against the man God called to be their future king. If we definitely want to set ourselves up for failure in our walk with God, all we have to do is hold on to unconfessed sin, and then allow ourselves to be convinced that somehow we are in favor with God. The next time any one of us thinks that we are doing what is God’s will and plan for us, let us first take a moment to examine our lives. Ask God to examine our hearts and show us what is there (Psalm 139:23-24). Then compare what we are saying is God’s will with His Word. If it contradicts God’s truth, then it is not God’s voice we are hearing. Let us also be extremely careful that we not lead others down a path that will draw them further away from God, simply to fulfill our own foolish desires. I will leave you with the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 18:6-7, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).