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 people who start out well but who finish rather poorly, this is true even among Christians and men of God alike. We hear of those who were once vibrant for God but who have now begun to compromise.
This trend is not to be tolerated. We need Christians like Apostle Paul, who can say, “ 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 to 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.”
Samson started out well, but he didn’t finish well. These are some important lessons to learn from the life of Samson. Take note of them so that you don’t make the same mistakes:
1. Samson violated 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 forsook godly counsel
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)
Beloved, don’t ever get to a point in life that nobody can correct you; when a person can no longer be corrected or when he chooses to forsake godly counsel; 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.”
PRAYER
Lord, I receive the grace to finish well in Jesus Name. Help me never to violate my consecrations, not to walk in the flesh, and not to forsake Godly counsel in Jesus name.