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How Far Will You Push The Envelope?

by Angela Willingham  
5/27/2009 / Christian Living

In Judges 16 we read the story of Samson and his relationship with Delilah. For those of you who don't know the story, you can read it in Judges 13-16. Samson had been chosen by God and set apart from before his birth. God purposed Samson and had a plan for his life.

God has purposed each one of us and He also has a plan for our lives as well.

As you read the story of Samson and Delilah, you repeatedly see attempts being made by the Philistines (they were Samson's enemies), to subdue and capture Samson. They hated Samson. Repeatedly his girlfriend asked him for the secret to his incredible strength and repeatedly he gave her misinformation that led her and the Philistines on a wild goose chase. She gave him a hard time for not telling her his secret and finally, because he was frustrated or just tired of her nagging he admitted, shared with, gave up the secret information. He had no sooner shared his secret with his girlfriend than the enemy took the information and used it against him. If you read the chapter you will see that he was asked the same question multiple times and gave her incorrect answers before finally the fourth and final time he told her his secret. Just a word of warning to the wise, you have to be careful who you share your secrets with. Even after seeing what happened the previous three times, even after experiencing her previous betrayals, Samson did not get it. He thought it was some type of game. He believed he loved her, but obviously, she did not love him, she wanted the money or the benefits. What would make a man or woman give up the information after all of that?

When she cried out the fourth time to let Samson know that the Philistines were there the bible says in Judges 16:20, 20And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that(A) the LORD had left him. In other versions of the bible it says the Lord had departed from him. Another version says the Lord had abandoned him. No matter what version you read it in, the answer is the same, God was no longer with him. He had lost his power and anointing.

Samson mistakenly thought it would be just like the other times, but this time it was different. He was captured, bound, blinded and put in prison. This time God did not give him the strength to overcome his enemies. How many times will you or I push the envelope, believing God will get us out of a situation that we have gotten ourselves into, whatever it is? Delilah was not the chosen of God for Samson, she was his choice, he loved her and she was his downfall. Samson like many of us chose his will over the will of God. Samson's choice ultimately led to Samson's death. Delilah collected her silver from the Philistine rulers and went on with life, without looking back. Samson was allowed to become a laughingstock to the Philistine people and she was probably in the crowd laughing with everybody else.

Maybe the envelope you are pushing is not a relationship, maybe it is a drug habit and you keep thinking, I just need to get high one more time, it will be all right. Maybe it is a physical condition. The doctors have told you, "You have to lose the weight or it is going to kill you. You are headed for a heart attack or a stroke", but you think this food is just too good.

Whatever your situation, remember Samson thought he would be able to shake himself free, he thought the Lord was still with him, but he was wrong. Whatever your situation, if you are not being obedient to God, if you are choosing to do your own thing God is not with you. The question you have to answer is how long are you willing to live like that, outside of God's will and thinking He is with you, when He's not?

If you find yourself outside of the will of God in any area of your life, we encourage you to seek His direction in getting back in the place that He wants you to be. If you read the end of Samson's story you will find that his hair grew back and he was able to kill more of his enemies as a blind prisoner that he did when he was free, but it cost him his life. Ultimately, God got the glory out of his life and He will get the glory out of yours too, but at what cost?

How far are you willing to push the envelope?

Scripture:
Judges 16:20:
20And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that(A) the LORD had left him.

Angela Willingham, CEO New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.
www.mynewtemple.org
Copyright New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries, Inc.

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