Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 30:4-6, Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Something interesting happens when trouble visits us up close and personal. All of a sudden, that which should have been most important to us, but had been neglected, becomes important again. The one Person who should have had priority in our life has now moved up a few notches to be the most important Person in our life again. Yes, I am speaking of the One who gave it all so that we would have eternal life. The One whose relationship we should value above all else. It is a very sad commentary that far too often it takes adversity for us to make God as important in our lives as He should be. God gave us His only begotten Son (John 3:16), and in Him has given us eternal life. He has given us a very simple command (note that I did not say easy) to tell everyone about what He did for us and what is available in Him (Mark 16:15). Yet, we carry on in life, every day, as if we have forever on this earth, and we spend so much time being friends with the world that sometimes God has to allow something like a worldwide pandemic to get His children’s attention. The thing I would like us to consider today is this one question, “Where did it all go?” What do I mean you ask? Well, where did all those things and all those people we put before God go? Where are all those things and all those people we gave our attention to and gave preference to over God? Where did the job go that we were laid off from? The one on whose altar we sacrificed family for, chasing that all elusive dollar? Where is that sports team we celebrated, as if we were going to be the one wearing the championship ring or as if we were going to get a chunk of the millions of dollars they are banking? How much have we sacrificed, neglecting family, church, and squandering monies that could have been used to support a missionary who is sacrificing to win others to Christ? How valuable was that lesson we taught our family that skipping church service on a Sunday morning for a fishing trip or sporting event was okay? How many of us are in a panic because the investments we were counting on to help us live comfortably are all of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, gone? So I ask again, “Where did it all go?” Where are all those people, sports idols, and worldly treasures we made our gods? Why are they not helping us in our greatest time of need? David was greatly distressed. Why? He was greatly distressed because he found himself in a position where his loyal followers now talked about stoning him for the loss they suffered at the hands of the Amalekites. The Philistines, who David ran to for shelter and protection wanted nothing to do with David or his followers. The followers whom David dedicated himself to, and whom he counted on for backup were now contemplating doing him harm. Who does David have left but God? Who do we have left in these dark times? Yes, we have the Lord; the one who promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5-6) The fact of the matter is that God sometimes has to allow adversity to enter the front door of our lives in order to wake us up to the fact that we have allowed the world to consume our time and attention. We have allowed the world to lull us to sleep with its vile entertainment, and draw us to its gods with their empty promises. What will it take to wake us up and realize that there is a great urgency that exists for those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior? Do we think that we will be here forever? Did we forget that we are only pilgrims here and that this is not our home? What are we striving for? Are we so busy trying to gather earthly treasure that we are forfeiting heavenly reward? Will we later lament the fact that many family members and people we know and love will perish because we were too busy with our video games, social media, television, and sporting events to take the time to share the Gospel message with them? It’s time to stop and ask ourselves, “Where did it all go? Where did they all go?” Once we have, we need to stop and realize that there is only One who is faithful, and there is only One who deserves our faithfulness and total allegiance. We need to turn back to our Savior, repent, ask for His forgiveness and get to what really matters today, during these trying times, and for the remainder of our time here on earth. Like David, this is the time to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, commit to prayer and His Word and stay busy doing the Lord’s work for His glory.
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).
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