Seeing a Small Flicker of God's Light

A crisis invariably creates within a person the compulsion for self-examination to assess the pain and suffering that cannot be denied. The unwillingness to take advantage of an opportunity to change unproductive behaviors and thoughts is a prescription for other major crises to follow, filled with additional pain and suffering.

Samson experienced several crises in rapid succession. The most severe crisis followed the loss of God’s presence, which resulted in being captured by his enemies who promptly gouged out his eyes. In addition, he was permanently separated from his family and friends and made to serve as a slave for the duration of his life.

Even under such harsh conditions, Samson’s will to live could not be extinguished. In the depths of that devastating darkness, nothing could switch off the flicker of God's light that provided hope for fulfilling God’s calling. God’s love penetrates the deepest darkness to give courage and hope for facing the future.  

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You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.

~2 Samuel 22:28-29 English Standard Version

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

~Matthew 4:16 New International Version

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An Unwelcomed Knock

When tragedy arrives at our doorstep, self-examination is a first step for managing its impact. Unexpected tragedy creates fear and anxiety in addition to anger and sadness. These emotions initiate a search for answers to tough questions. While God allows evil to exist, we are responsible for its pervasiveness in our lives.  

          When evil activates a crisis that shocks a person or family to its core, it demonstrates how negligent we’ve become in believing we are outside evil’s reach. Tragedy perpetrated by evil calls into question exactly what we value. Our personal choices provide evidence that what we believe is either acceptable or unacceptable, good or evil.

          Evil attitudes and behaviors are noticed by God, as Judges 2:11 confirms. "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord by worshiping other gods. They provoked the Lord to anger, so he withdrew his protection and caused them to be in great distress." God honors your faithfulness and will strengthen your will to remain faithful.  

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Indeed, I do not do the good things that I want to do, but I do practice the evil things that I do not want to do. But if I do the things that I do not want to do, it is really not I that am doing these things, but it is sin which has its home within me…Wretched man that I am! Who can save me from this deadly lower nature? Christ our Lord!

~Romans 7:19-21, 24 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

Facing God's Reality

When it was time for Jacob to return to his homeland, he packed up and left his father-in-law’s home by making a hasty retreat in the middle of the night. Jacob feared his father-in-law, who was self-centered, controlling and manipulative. Leah and Rachel could not trust their father to be fair and respectful.

  

When Laban heard of their departure, he was sad and angry. He had been outwitted, deceived and abandoned. Laban refused to ask himself, "What did I do to cause this response from my daughters and son-in-law?" Self-examination is crucial to healthy relationships. Lamentations 3:40 advises, "Let us examine our ways and test them."

Refusal to engage in self-examination leads to blaming others for our pain and problems. After learning of Jacob’s departure, Laban set out to bring them back, but God had other plans. Laban had to face reality. He had lost control of Jacob and his family. Now he was forced to face himself and the reality of God’s power, mercy and love.

Rising Above Character Weaknesses - Part 2

Although the U.S. presidential election is over, news organizations and others will continue searching for information to debunk the new president’s power to govern. False information becomes as powerful as truth when information services engage in a feeding frenzy to inundate consumers. This indicates that strengths and weaknesses exist in each person and will influence personal choices.

Pointing out weaknesses in others comes easier than owning them in ourselves. The most difficult course I took in graduate school required me to identify my weaknesses and share them with appropriate fellow classmates. I was surprised by the respect I gained for others who openly identified their weaknesses.

You’re aware of the Greek caption, “Know Thyself". 1 Corinthians 11:28 encourages believers to examine themselves before taking communion. It's important to recognize unconfessed sin and to resolve differences with others. This brings honor to Christ and the church for which he suffered and died. Consider this truth and take appropriate action.  

Examine Your Choices: Consider the Cost - Part 3

Do you realize that God probes your heart to insure nothing is hidden from him or yourself? In a court of law, attorneys examine and cross-examine witnesses in search of the truth. Counselors listen for thoughts and feelings to help resolve emotional and relational conflicts. Mechanics have diagnostic tools for solving problems with your automobile.

God searches the heart for hidden and unforgiven sin. He examines the heart for motives that sabotage his purpose and plan. He knows we’re capable of intentions that are contrary to his ways and in conflict with our conscience. God checks out your heart to see if fellowship with him is based on truth and to challenge you to live within that truth.

God scrutinizes the heart, seeking wrong motives, thinking, and deeds that prevent growth and maturity in faith. Balaam, in Numbers 22, recognized and confessed his sin but never repented or changed. In contrast, David repented and begged God to create in him a clean heart. God is capable of doing just that. 

Examine Your Choices: Consider the Cost - Part 2

When Joshua challenged the Hebrew people to be committed to serving God, he knew it would require a thorough self-examination of their loyalty, which previously had been questionable. Successful businesses maintain precise inventories to retain profitable items while discontinuing those that do not justify their existence.

Plato, the Greek philosopher who lived four hundred years before Christ, wrote, "The unexamined life is not worth living," which means growth and maturity do not happen incidentally. Businesses give employees personal evaluations to determine their progress, but self-examination is just as important.

A lesson from Balaam’s life in Numbers 23 has to do with failure to do a self-inventory. When needed changes are avoided or side-stepped, a self-made crisis may not be preventable. God closely examines us, as David realized in Psalm 17:3. "You probe my heart and examine me." Thank God he does this so we can choose to remain close to his heart and purpose.