Articles
But Things Were Going so Well!
Have you ever felt like things were going pretty well? Maybe your bills are all being paid on time. You’re doing well at work, maybe someone is even talking to you about a promotion. You’re going to church and feeling spiritually strong. Then something comes along, and you make a stupid decision and fall into some type of sinful behavior. It seems that when we get on the right path something comes along to trip us up.
A person can seem to have everything going for them but still make bad decisions. In Acts 13:22 God chose David to lead the people of Israel. “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” David was a man after God’s own heart, but he had times when he fell flat on his face. He fell to temptation, fell hard, and sinned.
We are responsible for our actions, but we should never forget that Satan is out to get us. In 1 Chronicles chapter 21 we read that Satan rose up against Israel, and he incited (or tempted) David to count the people of Israel. “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, ‘Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.’” (1 Chronicles 21:1-2) David’s actions angered God “This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:7) Satan may have tempted David but it was David’s decisions and actions that were sinful, and God punished not only David but all of Israel because he fell to temptation. David put his trust in solders instead of in God.
David repents and accepts the responsibility for his actions asking God to stop His punishment. “…Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.” (1 Chronicles 21:16-17) We should always be on guard against temptation, and willing to repent and admit when we mess up. ~Brad Tolbert
