Looking To Jesus!

He began so well. Young, handsome, strong, and towering a full head above everyone around him, he was a real hunk. Malcolm had it all-and a wealthy, influential father as well. What a guy! What a situation! And he loved God.

His rise to prominence came early. Singled out before reaching full adulthood to become his country's chief executive, Malcolm at first was so overwhelmed at the prospect of leading his country that he ran away. He was later found hiding on his father's huge ranch. Finally coaxed out of seclusion, he accepted his fate and began preparing for his enormous leadership role.

Malcolm had no opposition as he assumed his highly visible and important position. He enjoyed his widespread public support. Everything seemed to be going so well.

Then something changed. Observers reported an occasion on which Malcolm usurped the role of his country's principal religious authority. This was a major incident, since religion was a dominant force in Malcolm's country.

The news got progressively worse. A group of religious leaders who opposed him was found murdered in their church building. Later reports identified Malcolm and his troops as the mass murderers. In another crisis, instead of looking to God at a time of crisis, he consulted a fortuneteller.

These and other developments contributed to Malcolm's demise. Increasingly unstable, he became a torment to himself and those around him. He defied the God he had so readily acknowledged when his public career began. Warnings were useless. Confronted repeatedly, his erratic responses only underscored his spiritual decay. Finding himself eventually in an international war that he knew would trap him in the jaws of defeat, Malcolm committed suicide. Amid total disaster, he died surrounded by death.

Michael, too, began so well. Like Malcolm, he began humbly. The youngest of a large family, he too was discovered out in his father's fields, running toward-not from-responsibility.

Chosen, as Malcolm, to become his country's next chief executive, he proved himself capable in every way. He was young, handsome and strong. What a guy! What a situation! And he loved God.

Among Michael's greatest tests was the intense, prolonged and malicious opposition from the ruling administration. They did not want to relinquish their power and prestige. Yet, in challenge after challenge he responded with godly judgment and uncanny ability.

Religion was a prominent influence in his country. And Michael set the pace for his people. When the time finally came for him to assume his high public office, he proclaimed his love for God by taking a proactive role in establishing and enhancing the spiritual vitality of his nation. He complemented, not usurped, the work of his appointed religious leaders. During his administration, their ministry flourished as never before. He enjoyed widespread support. Everything seemed to be going so well.

Then something changed. Virile man that Michael was, he succumbed to the beauty of a married woman who was not his wife. Compounding the tragedy of adultery was the tragedy of murder. Michael coldly arranged for the death of his lover's husband. It gets worse: The betrayed husband and murder victim happened to be one of Michael's most devoted employees.

This incongruous debacle had to stop. Finally-and carefully-the country's key clergyman confronted Michael. Wielding a few disarmingly simple, well-selected sentences with the skill of Luke Skywalker, he cut through Michael's facade and exposed the ugly truth.

It was a supremely significant moment. How would this powerful and charismatic leader react to such serious charges? Michael's response was 180 degrees from Malcolm's. Instead of usurping this daring spiritual leader's authority, and instead of murdering him a la Malcolm, he fell on his face in repentance. Not just privately, but publicly he confessed his sin to God and the people.

Michael's grief-filled repentance was rewarded with God's gracious forgiveness. To be sure, he had to cope with the consequences of his failure. But he also experienced the comfort of God's faithfulness.

God resumed His work in and through a renewed and restored Michael, and when the time came for him to move onward to heaven, he left under the best of circumstances. Having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor, he died surrounded by caring family and friends.

The real names of these two people, as you may have guessed, are Saul and David. Their royally fascinating stories are reported in the Old Testament books of Samuel and Chronicles. Saul and David had goals not unlike yours and mine. Their beginnings were modest. They probably dreamed of some day becoming significant.

As adults, they each clearly wanted to maximize their potential. Likewise, they were both drawn to meaningful living rather than mediocre survival. They sought challenge and adventure-and experienced their share of setbacks. How do you account for the critical difference in their lives? Their endings were as divergent as their beginnings were similar. What can you and I learn from them?

Acts 13:21-22 gives us our answer:

21 "They asked for a king; so God gave them Saul for forty years.
22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David . a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'

The words of Jeremiah 9:23-24 apply not only to Saul and David, but also to you and me:

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.

2 Chronicles 16:9 - .The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

© 2007 John Garmo. If you would be interested in using this article, please contact us at Info@MissionToChildren.org.