Hope at the Bottom pt4

As we have worked through this series we have looked at all the ways we wind up at the bottom and all the ways God meets us there- except for one.

What happens when we wind up at the bottom due to our own sin?

This is NOT a popular or comfortable topic in our day. We spend a lot of time hearing about how everything is someone else’s fault. We are all victims of someone else.

I am not discounting- and I hope this series has demonstrated this reality- that we can end up on the bottom because someone sins against us, but the reality is, there are a lot of times when there is no one to blame but ourselves- because we are sinners.

That word is hard for some people. But it is how God describes us- AND He loves us in spite of our sins. This is why Jesus came- because God loved us in spite of our sin.

So when sin drives us to the bottom, because we are ashamed or afraid or guilty, if we do not remember God’s love for us in our sinful state, we tend to run away from the only One who can deal with our sin. And bring us out of the pit we have dug for ourselves.

Samson is that guy.

Now most of us know Samson as the strong man. He is the guy whose mom had promised him to God, and committed him to a Nazarite vow before he was ever born. His whole life he drank no alcohol, touched anything unclean, or cut his hair.

And God did great things thru him. He was a mighty judge and warrior in the time when Israel needed someone just like that. But he had a flaw.

Samson’s flaw was a lustful temptation for women. He was constantly foolish in regard to who he got involved with.

And then he met Delilah.

Go with me to Judges 16:4-6.

Delilah is an agent of Samson’s enemies. But Samson should not be with her in the first place.

This is where sin takes root:

we are in a place we should not be

we are with people or things that we know are temptations for us

we stay because we trust in ourselves to handle the situation

Samson is all of us. Temptation is a not sin, but when we play with fire, burning is eventually going to happen- and it is a toss up on who gets burned.

Now look with me at how Samson tries to handle the temptation. Go to verses 7-14.

He lies.

We start our descent to the bottom when we compound sin with sin. Instead of fleeing or turning to the Lord for guidance, Samson lies to Delilah.

And folks, he does so TWICE! Even though after the first time he knows she is up to no good.

Church this is how sin can fully blind us. It makes fools of us. And leads us to destruction.

“I can handle it” is written on a lot of spiritual and physical tombstones.

Can I be straight with you? We can’t “handle it.”

Sin wants one thing- to devour you. 1 Peter 5:8.

And the Enemy may not be able to get to your soul, but he will take the next best thing- everything you have.

Sin is not something to play with or circle around. It is something to be fled. If we were “strong enough” then we would not have needed a sacrificial Savior.

Our world is FULL of examples today of men and women who have led in ministries and churches all over the world and have been undone by sin.

It is also full of broken marriages, homes, companies, even countries destroyed by the seed of sin that grew into a life devouring monster.

Sin kills.

And it takes us to the bottom.

Watch what happens to Samson in vs 15-22.

He is destroyed.

The enemies, who have been waiting for an opening, have what they want. And for them, best of all, they don’t have to kill him. They can humiliate and dominate him instead.

Sin takes from us

vision- eyes gouged out

freedom- in shackles

calling- from judge to laborer

Some of us are at that point or have been at that point. The enemy may be unable to take our souls, but he can make day to day life hell on earth as he keeps us bound.

And at the bottom.

But one thing I want you to notice- verse 22. Hope is still present.

You may be at the bottom. But God is present even when we are digging our own graves. And He has not abandoned us at the bottom or to sin.

He is just waiting.

For what? For us to return to Him.

Look at verses 23-31.

Samson finally some to himself. And he does the one thing he should have done from the beginning. He calls on the Lord.

This is Samson’s repentance.

Delivery from the bottom starts with repentance.

To repent means to make a U-turn. To go the opposite way. Samson goes away from his own strength and returns to the One who gave him his strength in the first place.

And he rises up from the bottom.

When we come up from the pit things are not going to be the same.

our scars will remain

our calling will be different

but our God is still the same!

And what Samson does after his repentance is greater than what he accomplished BEFORE going down into the pit. (verse 30)

God has not given up on you despite your sin. He has a story to write after your fall. He has a greater work for you.

It will be different. Your scars will remain. But His love will sustain you. His strength will empower you.

Your refusal to repent is all that is keeping you in the pit.