RESTORED TO USEFULNESS

We seem to hear increasingly of some well-known pastor who has fallen. For those who don’t make national headlines, there are others in small churches who resign in disgrace.  Is it more rampant, or more publicized? I suspect the former.

Be that as it may—how does it happen and can such a man ever be restored to usefulness?  2 Kings 6:1-7 gives us some guidance.

Consider, THE USEFULNESS THAT IS REQUIRED.   “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.’ So he answered, ‘Go.’ Then one said, ‘Please consent to go with your servants.’ And he answered, ‘I will go.’ So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.” (v.1-4).  We need servants of God who are usable for there is much to be done. Our usefulness for God requires vision and vigor.

There was VISION (v.1-2).  They saw the need and were moved to meet it. Do you have a burden for the work of God to progress? They called upon Elisha to oversee the project (v.3-4a). Leadership is pivotal for progress to be made.

There was VIGOR (v.4b).  The vision is pursued with vigor! There comes a point when inspiration must give way to perspiration. You need a dream, but a dream isn’t enough. Daydreamers never accomplish anything.

Then, we find THE USEFULNESS THAT IS REMOVED.  “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed.’” (v.5).  There will be no success without activity, but activity alone doesn’t insure achievement.

Ponder THE LOAN OF OUR ABILITY, “it was borrowed.”  The ability of the man to chop the tree wasn’t his own, but it was borrowed. Every now and then I’m listening to Rush Limbaugh and he says of himself, “Talent on loan from God.” Well it is. We are stewards—our gifts and abilities are on loan from God. We are going to give an account one day.

Then comes THE LOSS OF OUR ABILITY  “the iron ax head fell into the water.”  He became lax. He didn’t notice that the head of the ax was loosening. His laxity led to looseness and his looseness to loss. We can get so busy working that we stop watching. Jesus warned, “Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation.” If we are so busy in the work of God that we neglect the worship of God we are headed for a fall. Little by little this leads to loose living and loose living eventually leads to lost usefulness.

Thankfully there is THE USEFULNESS THAT IS RESTORED,  “So the man of God said, ‘Where did it fall?’ And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself.’ So he reached out his hand and took it.” (v.6-7).

Restored usefulness requires A REPENTANT CONFESSION  (v.5b-6a).  He mourned over his loss. He confessed and acknowledged the place where it was lost. There is a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. After Peter denied Jesus, his bitter tears were the seeds of fruitful restoration. You get back on the road of righteousness where you took the devil’s detour. Where did you fall? Confess it to God with sincerity.

Then there follows A RENEWED COMMITMENT (v.6b-7). The stick causes me to think of another piece of wood—the cross. That cross is the source of our cleansing, but it is also the standard of our commitment. You must die to self to be useful for God.

We can be restored also. Where did you fall? How did it happen? Will you repent and seek God’s forgiveness? Come to the cross and you can be restored.  It might be a difference place or a different position, but you can yet make a difference IF you will do DIFFERENTLY.

FADING AT THE FINISH LINE

For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.  (1 Kings 11:4)

 

It is important to start well, but it is more important to finish well. There are horses that charge out of the gates and lead the race early, only to fade at the finish line. It can happen in the church. Paul said to the Galatians, “You ran well. Who hindered you?” The church at Ephesus was enjoined to repent and do the first works. We all know people who have joined the church with great enthusiasm, began serving with high energy, but flamed out—their spiritual life just cold ashes now. Solomon is a classic example of fading at the finish as described in 1 Kings 11.

 

Think about THE CAUSE OF HIS FALL (v.1-8).  The law of the harvest is this: we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.  Solomon is an example. The sins of the fathers are visited upon the children. David had fallen into lust with Solomon’s mother. Now we see his son caught in the web of immorality. In Proverbs we read how Solomon warned his son of seductive women, but the wisest man became a fool.  Imagine—Solomon—a man who had conversed with Living God, bows to graven images.  He had built the house of God and seen the glory fill it.  Now, he erects altars where the foulest blasphemies are acted out—orgies of sensuality and child sacrifice.  Once the devil gains a foothold, he moves to build a stronghold. The man given to sensuality will become a compromiser.  

 

This brings us to THE CONSEQUENCE OF HIS FALL (v.9-13).   God is not mocked. Solomon had sown to the flesh and would reap corruption.  After all God had done for him, Solomon thumbs his nose at God.  He bites the hand that feeds him.  No wonder God was angry. He is not a God to be trifled with.  Twice before God had appeared to Solomon and promised blessing to him and his descendants.  These promises were conditioned upon his obedience.  Solomon failed and God will be faithful to his warnings also.  So God announces He will show His displeasure for Solomon’s disobedience by bringing discipline on him.  We should never use the grace of God as an excuse to sin.  Even forgiven sin can have temporal consequences.

 

The end was THE CHASTISMENT OF HIS FALL (v.14-43).  God brings out the rod and chastens His child.  Note that it was the Lord who raised up these adversaries.  Solomon could not conquer them.  The faithful child of God will face fierce foes, but has grace to overcome them.  The backslider cannot draw upon God’s power.  The implications of sin can be far-reaching, extending to many people over many years.  It certainly will impact our family. 

 

By contrast, Paul finished well.  In his last will and testament he declares, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved His appearing.”  I want to be included in that number.  You are going to die and face judgment for your works as a Christian—what kind of reward will you achieve?

THE REACH OF REDEMPTION

But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,

 Or to turn back from following after you;

 For wherever you go, I will go;

 And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;

 Your people shall be my people,

 And your God, my God.”  (Ruth 1:16)

The book of Ruth reveals the road to redemption.  It affords an Old Testament picture of a New Testament principle.  The road to redemption begins in Moab and ends in Bethlehem—a way out of a place that God called His wash pot and into the place meaning “house of bread.”  Chapter one of Ruth focuses on God reaching down in love.

Redemption begins with God’s sovereign act (v.1-4).  There was a famine in the house of bread.  Elimelech packs up his family and migrates to Moab, seeking greener pastures.  Though his name meant, “My God is King,” he was in rebellion against God’s will, walking by sight rather than by faith.  Canaan, despite its present woe was to be preferred over Moab and its pervasive wickedness.  Its inhabitants were the descendants of Lot’s incest with his daughter.  Moabites worshipped Chemosh, offering their little children in fire as sacrifices.  “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more….”  (Rom.5:20b)  Despite Elimelech’s sin, God was still King and in His sovereign grace had chosen to overrule his straying child’s disobedience and reach a Moabite girl who was not looking for God.  God, however was looking for her.  As I survey my past, I can see how God was working even during my period as a prodigal to reach me—circumstances that He directed to drive me to Himself.

Two weddings and three funerals took place in Moab (v.3-5).  The chastisement of God fell upon Elimelech and his sons.  They were defiant against God’s will, going where they should not and marrying those they ought not.  “The wages of sin is death,” (Rom.6:23a).  Yet, without these sorrows, Ruth would have never journeyed to Bethlehem where she would meet Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer.  She might have become bitter toward God—many do when facing tragedy.  She could not have understood what this God of the Hebrews was up to, but later she would.  We live life forward, but we understand it backward.  All He does is ultimately for glory and good!

With the death of her husband and sons, there is nothing to hold Naomi in Moab (v.6-14).  She hears that the famine is over and the feasting has resumed—the House of Bread has become a bakery again.  It is time to go back to Bethlehem. 

Remember, that when Naomi and her family came to Moab they were in rebellion against God.  The counsel of a backslider is to be rejected.  Their senses are dulled by their disobedience.  Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab!  Orpah listens and turned back to her demon gods—into darkness forever.  Ruth clings to Naomi—grace at work drawing her to redemption (v.15-22).  This is the mystery of election—two girls so close, yet separated for eternity—like Cain and Abel; Esau and Jacob; Judas and Peter; the two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus.  Orpah and Ruth both had opportunity to go to the place of redemption, but only one did.  Orpah was not made to turn back, nor was Ruth forced to go up.  Still, grace drew her.  That is what makes redemption to be God seeking undeserving sinners. 

Have you reached up the empty hand of faith to the hand of God reaching down with the gift of salvation?  Are you Orpah or Ruth?

GET BACK

 

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”  (Genesis 35:1)

I borrowed the title for this devotional from a Beatle’s song.  The chorus calls, “Get back, get back. Get back to where you once belonged.”  Basically, that is what God says to Jacob in Genesis 35.  Jacob left the Promised Land three decades earlier.  Those years were marked by hardship and heartache.  Much of his trouble was of his own making.  God had disciplined him, and now it was time for him to return to the spot where he had departed—Bethel.

This is JEHOVAH’S CALL (v.1).  Jacob was to return to Bethel—the place of the forgotten vow.  When he had been there before, and had a dramatic encounter with God, Jacob had promised to serve Him, but much of his life had been spent pursuing his own interests.  God, however, proved Himself faithful, even when Jacob did not.  So, the Lord calls him to get back, and notice this: “go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there….”  If you need to go up, that means you have gone down.  Should you need to return to the house of God (and that is what “Bethel” literally means), then it is because one has departed from it.    Jacob had gone off course, went down into the world.  Has it happened to you?

Jehovah’s call led to JACOB’S CHOICE (v.2-4).  He responds decisively.  He is like the Prodigal Son who said, “I will arise and go to my father.”  I love the old hymn, “I will arise and go to Jesus; He will embrace me, in His arms.  In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms.”  God has given us this awesome power of choice.  We see that this father’s decision not only impacted him, but his family.  When a father chooses to serve the Lord, he can lead his children to the altar with him.  Have you wandered?  Is God calling?  It is time to act.  Jacob consecrated his life and cleansed his home.  What are you waiting for?

Jacob’s choice brought him under JEHOVAH’S CARE (v.5-6).  Not everyone was happy to see Jacob and his entourage show up.  The pagan inhabitants of the land were poised to attack them.  It was a hostile environment, but God cared for them.  I will not try to paint you a lovely picture—and inaccurate one—that choosing to follow the Lord will take you to easy street.  This world is no friend to those who seek after God.  We must never forget, however, that if God is for us—then none can stand against us.

Jehovah’s care inspired JACOB’S COMMUNION (v.7-15).  The altar is rebuilt.  The communion with God that had been removed by rebellion has now been restored by repentance.  Jacob was back to where he once belonged!  There is a way back to God. 

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!