The possibility of apostasy!

   But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judg. 16:20

   The apostasy from God is a great tragedy, far beyond all that we can think of. Consider to once have owned heaven and beatitude, relationship and friendship with God, and then fall from this height and down into the everlasting damnation! But it becomes especially tragic, when oneself is not even aware of, that this has happened!
   It is something particular, a particular weakness with you for instance, which you gradually more and more begins to pamper, in stead of living in the light with it, and confess it as the sin it really is.
   It can be different things with the different persons, all according to how their nature and attitude is.
   With Samson, whom we read about here, it was women. Something that led him astray, away from the Lord and His way and into Delilahs snare.
   For Judas it was the love of money that won, the greed for money and hope for a great seat and great power by Jesus' side in His kingdom.
   For king Saul, whom at the starting point - when God chosed him - was a man who were little in his own eyes (1 Sam. 15:17), it was the haughtiness that got Gods place.
   For Demas it was the love of this present world - the life in Thessalonica, which he went to.
   And notice - you who are aware of so much sin, weakness and unsteadiness in yourself, and maybe thinks: Then it seems to be no hope for someone like me! - Not one of these were lost because they had these sins and weaknesses, but because they no longer confessed them as sins, but let them get Gods place! It was accordingly not God that had rejected them, but they that had rejected God! - Therefore, they ended up being rejected by God.
   It is not without reason David - a man that gradually was well known with his own weaknesses - prays: «Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me!» (Psalm 51:11). And another place: «Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way!» (Psalm 139:23-24).
   That is a prayer we all need to pray, to Him who have plans for welfare and not for calamity to give us a future and a hope! (Jer. 29:11), yes, gave Himself to ensure our future!

E.K.

Holy Bible New American Standard Version
Translator: E.K.