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Purposed

eph. 1:9

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When somebody mentions the name Samson the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of us is failure. Honestly we think Samson failed miserably and had a life of sin.  But I want to remind you that Samson made it to the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 3. Are we missing something? From God's vantage point He must clearly see Samson in a different light. A far different light then what you and I typically view Samson.

One verse that has truly changed my view of Samson is found in Judges 14:4, it says, “But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” In other words, God had authored the feelings of attraction in Samson’s heart for this Philistine girl. This one bit of truthful understanding changes it all for Samson and the miraculous ending of his God written life.

Let's put ourselves in Samson's life for just a moment. He has an unusual calling and purpose on his life, which God placed in him before his birth. He was a man that was deeply wounded. His first wife, the Philistine, the one he loved and his heart longed for was raped by his friend and then she was later murdered. That’s a wound that does not heal itself overnight. There is no doubt it left a deep scar in Samson’s heart. Samson could not look to his father or mother for comfort during this time for they both did not agree with the marriage in the first place. However we know in chapter 14 and verse 4 this marriage was “of the Lord.”  

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:...

Galatians 2:20

S t e p p i n g o n O u r

H e r o s .

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Later, in chapter 15 we see Sampson is upon the rock E’tam and his own brethren have come against him and put him in bonds. Although God had spoken and plainly purposed Sampson to begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, his own brethren and people did not believe in him. If they did truly believe they would have rallied around him and followed him into battle that day. Instead they put him into bondage, thus furthering the suffering in his already wounded heart. They stepped on their Hero. As for Samson, accomplishing his God given purpose at this point seemed impossible. Samson was a man that found no comfort with his family nor his own people for they have no confidence in him and furthermore they’ve even turned against him in unbelief. Sampson is a wounded man, so he does like a lot of people do, he looks to sin to find comfort and relief. However the Scripture teaches us sin only brings a false comfort and it last but for a season (Hebrews 11:25). As for Samson, Gaza and further to Delilah was his path to eventually reaping what He’d sown. Sampson ends up in a detr imenta l relationship.

Paul told the Roman believers in Chapter 6 of his epistle, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” Understand that viewing failure through the perspective of God’s preeminence does not give one a liberty to sin but moreover a freedom from sin. “...How shall we, that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2

However from God’s vantage point of Samson, the man of Faith, he was doing exactly what God had purposed from the beginning. That being, to begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:5). God uses every thing at His disposal to conform us to the image of His son, seeing to it that we fulfill the purpose he has for life. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:..” He is going to do it. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

God uses the good, the bad, and the ugly to shape and conform us into the image of his Son, thus fulfilling His purpose in our life. Notice the position of Samson when he died, his hands, outstretched on the pillars and his words even mimic the words of Christ. In John chapter 19 we find our Saviour stretched out his arms and bowed himself as he died on the cross, just as Samson. In the end, what people look as a waisted life, we find God forming Samson in the image of Christ.

Once he was formed into the image of Christ he was able to accomplish the task God had purposed for him. In one instance all of the generals, presidents, governors, and high-ranking officials were slaughtered in one swift act of God. In one moment the entire Philistine empire was left leaderless and they were scattered abroad. Samson did exactly what God had purposed him to do. His path was up and down but God’s will was accomplished. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

So before we step on one another and kick one another let us remember that it may be God working in them mightily to fulfill the purpose He has for their life. They may be a Sampson in the making. A hero of faith, born in due time to turn our own nation around and bring revival once again to our land. Let us be on guard for a graceless tongue and trust in an All knowing and all purposeful God.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the

image of his Son,...” - Romans 8:29

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Recent l y I had the oppor tun i ty to wa lk through a world renowned art gallery in Bentonville, Arkansas . I saw many amazing paintings, some abstract while others were se l f -por t ra i t s . Each portraying the utmost and the finest detail, displaying the artists' character and sk i l l . One par t i cu la r painting truly stunned me with awe and immediately captured my attention.

While focusing on a spot up close to the canvas, it honestly appeared as if a second or third grader had made blotches on the Canvas using white, gray, and even some black paint. It made no sense, it looked as if there was no skill to it, as if they was just splattered on there with out any precision.

I then walked backwards and with each step, more of the picture came into a clearer focus, until I finally saw the entire picture standing before me. It was amazing! It looked like someone had used a Nikon high definition Camera to capture a scene of a snowstorm along a heavily wooded creek in the forest. It was breathtaking! Such precision!

What an amazing truth to ponder. Often times as Christian's we only see the black, white, and gray blotches. The blotches of failure, misunderstandings, and difficult circumstances takes up our entire field of view. When all along from God's vantage point there is a life long masterpiece in the making.

The truth is that once you have been apprehended by God, He will make sure you accomplish exactly what you've been apprehended for, a specific purpose on this earth. Paul said in Philippians chapter 3:12-14, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but

this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Rest assured, you will arrive where God has intended you to go. You will fulfill the will of God. Phil. 1:6 states, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:."

Currently, you may be focused on the blotches of white, gray, and black paint not understanding what God is doing in your life. Dear friend, only realize the deeper truth and apprehend the bigger picture. God has never left you nor will He ever forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) Maybe your current situation is likened to Job where you've looked on the left and could not find Him and on the right you could not behold Him. But Job said “He knoweth the way I take..” Job 23:10 You may not know where He is but rest assured He knows exactly where you are. His thoughts toward you haven't changed. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Notice "all things," yes it even means white, grey, and black blotches.

At this very moment, God is carefully working out his masterpiece in your life, for His own honor and glory. Welcome the difficult circumstance, the trial, the challenge, and the heart ache understanding that it's "...God which worketh in you both to will and to do o f h i s good pleasure." Phil. 2;13 Selflessly embrace the canvas of the cross, give yourself to Christ and allow h i m t o l i v e a n d paint out the gospel day by day through your life. Step back and apprehend the bigger picture.

Apprehending the Bi#er picture.