Text- Matthew 24:13 “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”
We are in days where there seems to be an epidemic of Christians who start out well but who finish poorly, or even fall away completely somewhere along the line. We need Christians who can say, like Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”
One example of a man in the Bible who didn’t finish too well was Samson. Samson was a judge in Israel who was destined by God to judge Israel. He was entrusted with the task of delivering the people of Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and draw them closer to God.
Because of God’s special assignment to him, God announced his birth to his parents before he was born (Judges 13:12-14). His Father asked the angel, “How shall we order the child?” The angel told his parents, “No razor shall come upon his head” He was consecrated a Nazarite unto the Lord.
Unfortunately, Samson violated His consecrations and the presence of the Lord departed from him. Judges 16:20 says, “He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.”
Some important things to note from the life of Samson are as follows:
1. Samson violated his consecrations
This was one of the reasons why Samson didn’t finish well; violation of his consecrations. Your consecrations are like your safety kits on the journey of destiny, don’t violate them! When you leave the confines of your consecrations, you are stepping out of the bounds of grace
2. Samson did not pummel his flesh
Everyone has a weakness. You must recognize the tendencies that you have in the flesh, and begin to deal with them, before they destroy you. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” – Romans 8:13-14
3. Samson became too big for correction
When Samson’s parents called him to order, he refused to listen to them. In Judges 14:3, his parents rejected his request to marry a Philistine. They counseled him on what God wanted but he rejected their counsel. “But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." (Judges 14:3)
Disobedience and arrogance was also what destroyed King Saul. Don’t ever get to a point in life that nobody can correct you; when someone can no longer be corrected; he perishes and none to come to his rescue. Proverbs 14:11 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
PRAYERS
1. Father, come what may, help me never to violate my consecrations in Jesus name.
2. Father, help me not to walk in the flesh. Grant me the grace to walk in the spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
3. Lord, may I never be too big for correction. Help me to be humble enough to adhere to godly reproof and rebuke.
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