MORE THAN MY SALVATION
If a man's building stands, he will be rewarded; if it burns, he will have to bear the loss; and yet he will escape with his life, as one might from a fire. 1 Cor. 3:14, 15, N.E.B.
Some very interesting names are registered in the Faith Hall of Fame. We're not at all surprised to see the names under the portraits of Abraham and Enoch. We would expect to see Noah, Moses, and even David. But as we walk down the hall of Hebrews, chapter 11, we are surprised to see a sketchy portrait of a burly looking fellow with long hair and deformed eyes. His name is Samson.
Samson--the God-selected deliverer of Israel, who seemed to spend less time fighting Philistine men than he did flirting with their women. The physical giant and the moral pygmy, more apt to swing jawbones than to lead men into prayer. The champion of freedom who died in chains under a pole of Philistine-carved temple stones, who destroyed more of the enemy in his death than in his whole life. What a strange incongruity that he should be selected as a great man of faith.
We must realize that we are dealing with two somewhat separate issues: salvation and effectiveness in witness. Though Samson came to a saving trust in God, his usefulness in bringing others to that same trust was, at best, a very mixed report. And while we have cause to believe that Samson will be saved, it is certain that Samson died in deep chagrin that his life had been so essentially wasted.
Before we are too hard on Samson, however, we should ask whether our own spiritual life is fixated on our own salvation, or whether--with that issue settled--we are enthralled with the bigger issues! What could be more satisfying than to learn to live beyond just our own salvation.
In these final days of earth's history, the giants of faith will not be those who will be "barely" saved, as though out of a fire. Our Father is longing for people who will stand tall in a turbulent world. At a time when every earthly means of support shall be stripped away, when there is a time of trouble such as never was, only those who are sure of God's attitude toward them, will be able to take their minds off themselves and help others reshape their attitude toward God.
If a man's building stands, he will be rewarded; if it burns, he will have to bear the loss; and yet he will escape with his life, as one might from a fire. 1 Cor. 3:14, 15, N.E.B.
Some very interesting names are registered in the Faith Hall of Fame. We're not at all surprised to see the names under the portraits of Abraham and Enoch. We would expect to see Noah, Moses, and even David. But as we walk down the hall of Hebrews, chapter 11, we are surprised to see a sketchy portrait of a burly looking fellow with long hair and deformed eyes. His name is Samson.
Samson--the God-selected deliverer of Israel, who seemed to spend less time fighting Philistine men than he did flirting with their women. The physical giant and the moral pygmy, more apt to swing jawbones than to lead men into prayer. The champion of freedom who died in chains under a pole of Philistine-carved temple stones, who destroyed more of the enemy in his death than in his whole life. What a strange incongruity that he should be selected as a great man of faith.
We must realize that we are dealing with two somewhat separate issues: salvation and effectiveness in witness. Though Samson came to a saving trust in God, his usefulness in bringing others to that same trust was, at best, a very mixed report. And while we have cause to believe that Samson will be saved, it is certain that Samson died in deep chagrin that his life had been so essentially wasted.
Before we are too hard on Samson, however, we should ask whether our own spiritual life is fixated on our own salvation, or whether--with that issue settled--we are enthralled with the bigger issues! What could be more satisfying than to learn to live beyond just our own salvation.
In these final days of earth's history, the giants of faith will not be those who will be "barely" saved, as though out of a fire. Our Father is longing for people who will stand tall in a turbulent world. At a time when every earthly means of support shall be stripped away, when there is a time of trouble such as never was, only those who are sure of God's attitude toward them, will be able to take their minds off themselves and help others reshape their attitude toward God.
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