Bulletin May 2022
by Bruce Billington
Will You Finish Well?
Many years ago, I was traveling with a dear friend, Trevor Chandler, who has since gone to be with the Lord. As we travelled, he began to share something that was grievous to him. It was about the many men of God he knew who had failed to finish well. His comments have come back to me a lot recently as we are witnessing the downfall of many well-known mega churches, the moral failure of many men of God and the recent fiasco at the Oscars when Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock just before receiving the Oscar for best actor!
The Bible also contains many similar stories of those who began well but ended poorly. Saul began well but despised David, lost the favour of Samuel and ultimately the nation of Israel. Joab remained very loyal to David during Absalom’s betrayal but then, at the end of his life, followed the weak and cowardly Adonijah. Solomon also ended poorly by allowing his many heathen wives to bring idolatry and division to the nation of Israel. A long list can be made both biblically and subsequently historically throughout the Christian world since the time of Jesus. It comes at a huge price and earns the body of Christ much ridicule and scorn from the world around it.
So, what should we do about this? How do we ensure that our very own walk with the Lord does not end up the same way? In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul tells us that Israel’s failure to please God has been recorded in the Scriptures as a warning for our own life. He cautions us against falling into immorality, idolatry, grumbling against God (as in allowing ourselves to become disillusioned with Him) and tells us to take heed, because we are subject to the same temptations as those who have gone before us.
One of the many tricks of the enemy is to deceive us into thinking that the areas of our life where we have gained victory in the past are now the least likely areas where we will stumble and fall. But he often comes back around hoping to catch us with the same temptations packaged in a different way.
As Denzel Washington wisely explained to Will Smith, “At your highest moment be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.” We have to determine at all times, both after achieving some great success or when under great and intense trials, that we will remain true to the Father and walk in humility knowing that all power and authority come from Him and that it is this very power that allows us to both achieve good things and withstand bitter attacks. Neither are achieved in our own strength.
This is not to say that we should go around feeling downcast, believing there is nothing good in us, looking for the devil under every tree and denying ourselves any sense of joy in what God enables us to be and do. We are redeemed, blood bought children of the living God and He takes joy in us – so we should do the same.
But in all things, we must remain alert, keep sharp before the Lord, seek Him in all things, and study and mediate on His word and His ways on a daily basis. We should remember that most of the Bible characters stumbled over their strengths, not their weaknesses.
Emmy Griffiths makes a useful comment. She says,
One of the problems in our world today is the lack of statesmen, dignified individuals who are respected and have morale authority.
After commenting further, she then states,
Everyone reading this post [on Will Smith] is now faced with a choice. Your circumstances do not affect this decision. You can either be a statesman who rises above the chaos like Denzel Washington, or you can be an angry person who acts foolishly like Will Smith. You decide.
This is a useful comment. Most of us find ourselves, from time to time, in a situation that makes us very angry, offended, or humiliated through no fault of our own. Our choice of action at that point (and there are many different choices) will have a significant impact upon those around us and even wider if we are well known. Once we have said or done something it cannot be taken back.
This is not to say we are to allow ourselves to be abused, robbed, beaten, or taken advantage of. But the key question in every situation we are faced with is “what action should I take, that will bring the most glory to the King and His Kingdom?” Only the Holy Spirit can lead us in this way. We have to be in relationship with Him to make it work.
Here is a short list that may help us engage Him in such situations.
- Quickly ask the Lord “Father, what would YOU have me do here?” (Isaiah 55:6).
- Have a pre-programmed response to situations we are susceptible to, so we can have an automatic response when they occur (1 Peter 1:13).
- Consider others to be more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) which enables us to quickly surrender our rights (like the car park we were “competing” for).
- Don’t read or believe our own press or allow people to put us on a pedestal – Jesus said there is no one great but God (Mark 10:18). Don’t try to be a messiah – we already have the greatest Messiah ever – we don’t need another one.
May you finish well – both today and for the rest of your life.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington