In the Capstone career readiness class I teach in high school, my students explore several aspects that make them unique like their personality, aptititudes, values, intelligences, and interests. By discovering more of who they are they can better formulate a plan for what they want to do after high school, as well as, how to best get there. In addition to the factors mentioned, I also believe it is vital to consider what God is calling you to. God created you and loves you. He knows that the only way for you to be fulfilled is to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. Following God’s will for your life will look different from person to person because of the unique characteristics God has given each person. So as you decide what you will do for a career, as well as, what you will do day to day, you must consider what God would have you to do and then carry it out by his grace and power.
On life’s journey and in life’s battle the destination, as well as, the process of getting there are important. Beyond an earthly vocation or achieving personal goals make your destination God himself. Find your fulfillment in him and becoming like Jesus. Make it your greatest pleasure to please him. Be a good steward and a faithful soldier with the resources and the calling God has entrusted you. In other words, use your sword under his divine direction and power. If you do you will experience tremendous blessing, even amidst difficulty. If you don’t do what you are designed for and called to do, it will cause suffering for you and others.
David’s Deadly Folly
A tragic and heartbreaking example of this is David, king of Israel around 1000 BCE. David was a shepherd who had a heart for God and for his nation, Israel. God chose him to replace Saul as king. Before becoming king, David served in Saul’s court and learned to lead through military conquests. After David became king he continued to lead Israel’s army as God gave them victories over their warring neighbor countries.
However, it came to pass that one spring when kings went to battle, David did not use his sword and lead his army in battle. He stayed behind in Jerusalem and sent his nephew, Joab instead. One evening from his rooftop, David happened to see a beautiful woman bathing. He inquired about her. Even though he learned she was the wife of one of his soldiers who was away fighting, David sent for Bathsheba to come to his house. He had sex with her. She conceived and sent word to David that she was pregnant. Looking to cover up what he did, David sent for her husband, Uriah, to come home from fighting and encouraged him to spend time with his wife. Uriah honorably refused because he felt it would be unfair for him to enjoy being home with his wife while his comrades were still fighting. David then tried getting him drunk and sending him home to his wife, but Uriah still didn’t go. So David changed tactics. He sent Uriah back to war with a letter David wrote to his general, Joab. In the letter David told Joab to put Uriah on the front line of the fiercest battle and then have the other soldiers around him retreat from their assault. As you might suspect, Uriah was killed in battle along with some other soldiers (2 Samuel 11).
This account is so sad to read about and to relay to you. David’s reprehensible actions deeply offend and anger me. More importantly, they displeased God. There are so many valuable lessons to learn from David like the danger of sensual desire, the downward spiral of sin, the destruction sin ravages on the innocent, and the deadly wages of sin. But also the grace and mercy of God which I’ll touch on later. However today, I want to focus on David’s inaction, for it was the impetus of his sordid scheme. David broke almost every command of God regarding how to treat others. He coveted his neighbor’s wife, he stole her, he committed adultery, he bore false witness, and he murdered. His actions caused tremendous pain and suffering for a lot of people. Although David’s sword was clean (unused), his hands became bloody. HIs inaction to do what was right and good led to his tragic action to do what was wicked. David should have gone to battle as the leader God appointed him to be. His failure to carry out what God called him to resulted in him sinning against God and others.
Your Connection
The same danger exists for you. Failing to carry out God’s commands and commission for you will negatively impact your relationship with him and the abundant life that only he provides. By default, our human nature is to live life on our own terms instead of God’s. We are deceived in thinking this will fulfill us. However, the reality is that by rejecting God we become his enemy—lost, dying, and in need of a savior. The devastating effects of people’s self-centeredness is evident all around us in this fallen world of broken people.
To sin is to go against God’s design for you. Thus, it encompasses not only what you do, but also what you don’t do (James 4:17). God wants your best which is to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. Therefore he sent Jesus, God the Son, to save you. He is calling you to himself by inviting you to trust Jesus as your savior. Once you commit to him, he continues to call you by teaching you to follow Jesus and to help others do the same. By God’s grace and power, you must take up the sword he has given you. You must act on the truth you have received. You must not continue to serve yourself. That will never save you. Instead, as God reveals himself to you through Jesus, you should respond to him by faith. Commit your past sins, your present will, and your future way to him. Receive his forgiveness. Then as he shows you his design for your life trust him, obey him, hope in him, and remain loyal to him (Romans 8:12-13). Failing to do so has spiritual deadly consequences, as well as, practical repercussions, just as it did for David.
There’s Always Hope
Although what David did was horrible, he was not beyond saving. Likewise, no matter to what degree you have done wrong, you are not beyond saving The smallest, seemingly insignificant transgression still kills you spiritually and separates you from God. Also, the most severe transgression is still forgivable for those who desire pardon, because Jesus has already bore the wrath of God for all sin. Therefore, anyone who trusts in his righteousness can be justified (John 3:16-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21). After being confronted David confessed and deeply regretted his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-14). He cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:1-3, 10-12). It was not too late for David to get right with God and it’s not too late for you. God forgave David, but there were consequences. David and Bathsheba’s child died a few days after his birth. Also bloodshed and adversity persisted in David’s family and some of the women in his family were taken by others. If you trust Jesus to save you, he will. If you desire to follow Jesus he will enable you to and he will bless you along the way. It may be a difficult road to travel based on the consequences of your sin or the impact of other’s sin on you, but you are not alone. God will see you through and transform you in the process. He is lovingly working to help you become like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). His grace is sufficient for you and his power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He will accomplish the perfect work he has begun in those who trust him (Philippians 1:6).
Conclusion
Learn from David’s many good virtues, but also from his mistakes. In many ways life is a battle as it was in the time of David. There is definitely a spiritual battle for your soul. Don’t try to fight it on your own or try to save yourself. You can’t win. Like David pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Trust Jesus to fight for you. Then as he enables you take up the sword of faith and mission that he gives you. Carry out his commands and his calling for your life. Doing so will save you and help others find and follow Jesus. Failing to act by faith will yield dire consequences. With that said, although the example of David is a serious warning, don’t move forward out of fear, guilt, or legalistic compulsion. Those motivations aren’t healthy or sustainable. Instead, by God’s grace and power, act out of love for God and others, because of Jesus’ sacrificial love for you (Matthew 22:36-40; 1 John 4:7-21).