Finishing Well pt4
Passing The Baton
(Finishing Well pt.4 final segment)
2 Samuel 18:18 (NASB95) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
1) Passing the baton requires you to be actively involved in the race.
Overview of passage: Absalom is David’s son. He is a leader in a rebellion to usurp his father’s authority. Absalom did not have a legacy to take his place. Therefore, he creates a pillar to have people remember him by.
a) Monuments are established to remember the past
- Absalom wanted David’s success with out the Goliath experience
1Sam 17, (Taking on something larger than himself)
- Absalom wanted David’s success with out the Abddulum experience 1Sam. 22:1-2 (being a cave and everyone in it is a mess)
- Absalom wanted David’s success with out the Saul experience.
1Sam 24&26 (2 X David had the opportunity to kill David and he did not)
- Absalom wanted David’s success with out the Bathsheba experience 2Sam 11. (Success is one thing, failure and overcoming it another)
b) Sons are a living inheritance.
A gift is worn on the outer man; an inheritance is planted deep inside like a seed. “A Tale of Three Kings” Gene Edwards
a) We are God’s inheritance, children of God- John 1:12 says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Paul emphasizes this truth in Romans 8:14 when he writes that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
b) What a contrast to the enslavement of forever remaining a child victim of an abusive parent! Paul says that a Christian is “no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:7). In spite of the depraved environment one may have grown up in, we are told that we “may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15). What wonderful news this is for “adult children” who have been handcuffed to their tortured past![1]
The Bonsai tree
2) Passing the baton takes commitment.
2 Samuel 18:18 (NASB95)
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
Superbowl Tickets A guy named Bob receives a free ticket to the Superbowl from his company.
Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium -- he is closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field.
About halfway through the first quarter, Bob notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field right on the 50 yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.
As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man says no.
Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Bob again inquires of the man next to him, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Superbowl and not use it?"
The man replies, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me, I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Superbowl we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967."
"Well, that's really sad," says Bob, "but still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or a close friend?"
"No," the man replies, "they're all at the funeral."
a) What is commitment?
Webster’s definition:
1) An act of committing to a charge
2) An agreement or pledge to do something
· Absalom wanted minimal commitment. He names the pillar and that is that. When you name a son, it’s only the beginning.
b) Commitment requires a whole heartedness.
1 Kings 11:4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Douglas Mac Author- had to apply 2x before he was ever excepted into West Point.
StoneWall Jackson started out at the bottom of his class in West Point but persevered.
David left a legacy. David might not have got it right a 100% of the time but, he stayed the course he had a legacy. Solomon took over, David had a legacy, Out of David’s family tree came Jesus, he had a legacy. Legacy’s come by wholly committing to God’s task.
3) Passing the baton means giving it over to someone who might not be able to it as good as you.
Have Some Ice Cream
"Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and Justice for all. Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a remark, "That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream. Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong?" Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper he added, indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing, "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big
smile, he told her.
"Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."
Luke 6: 32 “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. NASB
a) The elder or experienced one must be willing to give authority to the younger or the novice.
Author Gordon says, “Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day.
b) You have got to love those who aren’t like you, that is what gets the heart of God.
Absalom obsession was about himself, his hurts, and his feelings of being treated unjustly. His father, David was not there for his sister. His father did not act as extreme as he would have liked. He took things into his own hands. Because David did not act the way Absalom thought he should, Absalom did not have a heart for his father.
Elijah and Elisha prin., pass the mantle In 2Kings- “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?”
St Francis of Assi
4) When the baton is passed, the runner looks ahead to celebrating with those that have taken it after him.
An elderly lady was well-known for her faith and for her boldness in talking about it. She would stand on her front porch and shout "PRAISE THE LORD!"
Next door to her lived an atheist who would get so angry at her proclamations he would shout, "There ain't no Lord!!"
Hard times set in on the elderly lady, and she prayed for GOD to send her some assistance. She stood on her porch and shouted "PRAISE THE LORD. GOD I NEED FOOD!! I AM HAVING A HARD TIME. PLEASE LORD, SEND ME SOME GROCERIES!!"
The next morning the lady went out on her porch and noted a large bag of groceries and shouted, "PRAISE THE LORD."
The neighbor jumped from behind a bush and said, "Aha! I told you there was no Lord. I bought those groceries, God didn't."
The lady started jumping up and down and clapping her hands and said, "PRAISE THE LORD. He not only sent me groceries, but He made the devil pay for them. Praise the Lord!"
That lady had faith to celebrate
Proverbs 29:18 (NASB95) Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Prov 29:18 in the KJV it says “perish” In the NIV, Prov 29:18 says “go about unrestrained”
a) Vision looks ahead- the could be, it is the dream, it is the hope of a more excellent future.
According to Day Timers, Inc. only 1/3 of americans workers plan their daily schedules. And only 9% follow through and complete what they planned.
b) Vision doesn’t limit itself.-
D.L. Moody, “If God is your senior partner, you need to have big plans.”
Andy Stanely, “I know what I can do in 90 hrs/wk, I wanted to know what God could do if I worked 40 hrs/wk.”
c) Vision brings covering
Are we building a memory or a legacy?
Absalom dies a humiliating death. Stuck in a tree by his hair (vanity).
Recap:
2 Samuel 18:18 (NASB95) Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom Monument to this day.
- Passing the baton requires you to be actively involved in the race.
- Passing the baton takes commitment
- Passing the baton means giving it over to someone who might not be able to it as good as you.
- When the baton is passed, the runner looks ahead to celebrating with those that have taken it after him.
Earl Willerston tells the story of two men who grew up friends:
Jim and Philip – Jim was older – After college they both joined the Marines and by a unique set of circumstances where sent off to Germany together. Jim’ Commanding officer, “You’re a fool to go in there your friend is dead. There’s nothing you can do to save him.” No sir you’re wrong I got there just in time, Jim said. Before he died Philip’s last words where, “I knew you’d come.”
Who will go?
----
[1]Bulkley, Ed: Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology. Eugene, Or. : Harvest House, 1993, S. 119
