“Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.” (Judges 16:28-31 English Standard Version)
In the text above, Samson had certainly messed up and was clearly chained up, and he was far from being rested up. Yet, in his situation, Samson did not forget to look up. It would be his last day in the land of the living, and people were looking at him and laughing it up. But Samson, he did not forget to look up.
The Philistines had confidence in false gods, but in spite of the consequences he was experiencing because of wrong choices, Samson maintained confidence in the True and Living God. Thus, on the day of our text, Samson’s last day, he did not forget to look up. Yes, his life had a history of short-sightedness, and some may say that he suffered from blindness figuratively or spiritually for a while, thinking that the error of his ways would not lead to evil having a temporary victory over him. I say temporary, because Samson suppressed the short-sightedness and regained some spiritual far-sightedness, enabling Him to see above, and call on the One whose throne is in a glorious place, distant from this earth. Time was running out, but Samson did not forget to look up.
We should be saying, “I want what he has,” referring to the sense Samson had to turn to God in the midst of His trouble and the reaping of what he had sowed. We should be saying, “I want what he has,” simultaneously looking back to that old song that contains the lyrics, “This may be my last time. This may be my last time. This may be my last time. It may be my last time I don’t know.”
We don’t know if today will be the last time we have to be a living testimony for the Lord. We don’t know if this will be the last time we can reconcile a relationship that has gone off the rails. We don’t know if today will be the last time that we can do something for the Lord that will benefit His people. We don’t know if this is the last day that we can get right with God. We don’t know if this is the last time that we can be a witness that shows that our God is the One who is real and that He can really use us to do one more thing for the good of the kingdom. We don’t know if this is the last time we can make peace with our God before we leave this place, realizing that there is a time for everything.
That was a lot of “we don’t know” statements, granted. But let me provide you with something we do know. We do know that nothing is impossible with God. We do know that He loves us! We do know that He will give us another chance, even if it might be our last chance, when we just turn to Him, repent, and seek His forgiveness. He will forgive us and cleanse and give us another chance.
Well, friend, make the most of every chance to act like the Christ lives in you! Make the most of every day that the Lord allows you to be on this earth. Have what Samson had! Have that same type of far-sightedness that Samson had. Do not forget to look up to our God who dwells above and ask Him to give you the strength to have a victorious day. As a matter of challenging you, I challenge you to live every day that way, realizing that we do not know if we will have another opportunity to let His strength be seen through our deeds, our choices, and our conversations. Look at Samson in today’s text, and identifying with that time, say, “I want what He has.”
Have a great day! Depend on God to do what will bless others, bless the Lord, and bless you too! Be blessed by the closing words of assurance!
“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” (Isaiah 41:10 Easy-to-Read Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King