By your fruits you shall be known is a good way to look at our lives as we pass
by this way for the such a brief time. [Ecclesiastes 5:18] We look at the people of
the Bible and what they are most remembered for. Cain is probably more talked
about than Abel because he is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Abraham is
remembered for the obedience to God when he placed his son Isaac on the altar of
sacrifice. [Genesis 22] Moses is remembered mostly for one event, the leading of the
Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt and through the parted waters. [Exodus 14:16]
When we speak of Joshua we think of the crossing of the Jordan and the conquering
of Jericho. Then there was Samson; his pride is what got him into trouble and his girl
friend Delilah did not help. When we think of Gideon we think of the 26,000 men he
had to go into battle with yet God said it was too many people, he only needed 300.
[Judges 7:4] Israel was told not to take a King [1 Samuel 8:1-18] and when they did
what were they remembered for? Mostly self-gratification. Saul took on the role of
priest, [1 Samuel 13:9-13] David wanted Bathsheba and did everything wrong to get
her [2 Samuel 2:17] and Solomon took every woman he saw as a wife. Very few of
the Kings that followed ever followed the Lord God, as they should have, even after
warning following warning.
The question that must be asked is how will we be remembered when it is our time to
leave this earth? In the stories of each of these people of the Bible there is a message
for each of us, and a warning.
Cain was full of jealousy, which led to the slaying of his brother Abel. A direct
violation of the Word, [Exodus 20:13] and as Yeshua said hatred is also murder.
[Matthew 5:13] Unforgiveness is usually based on hate, which can of course lead to
actions not of God. Is this what we will be remembered for?
Abraham gave himself over to righteousness [Romans 4:13] as he was obedient to the
will of God. But sadly he is remembered more for the fact he got impatient with God
and took things into his own hands [Genesis 16:1-5] and made a mess of things that
is still causing problems today. Impatience with God can cause us many problems so
will we be remembered for our impatience?
Moses who was told there will be a prophet like you to come [Deuteronomy 18:18]
was disobedient and never gave all the glory to God for all things. [Numbers 20:12]
It is easy to get carried away with the things the Lord is doing in our lives and forget
who should be getting all the praise. So in our lives do we give all the glory to God?
Joshua was given the task of crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. Things went
well for him at times and at other times they did not. He sought the Lord but did he
act on God’s thoughts or his own? People do work on impulses, which sometimes
lead up the wrong path, are our actions directed by the Lord or human impulse?
Samson was fully disobedient of the task God had for him with disastrous results,
blinded and reduced to the role of a donkey milling grain all because of pride. We to
have to ensure that our pride in what the Lord has called us to do does not get in the
way of God’s will.
Then came the Kings, God warned them what will happen but the people did not
listen. There is only one King we should have in our lives and when we look at
earthly kings we can lose focus and take the wide path that leads to destruction. [1
Timothy 6:15]
King Saul trying to kill the opposition, King David killing the opposition and King
Solomon giving in to the opposition by taking on their gods. Here is another picture
of warning for us all. As Christians we find it hard, in fact very hard at times, people
will not listen to the Word, they go their own way and others don’t want the way of
life that is required of them as followers of Yeshua. [Romans 12:16] Yeshua came to
earth as God incarnate to not just paint a picture for us, but to show us in person the
mistakes of the people I have mentioned. Truly, Truly, He said this is the correct way
- listen to my words and see my actions then you will be remembered as the person I
want you to be, a true Child of God, a reflection of the one in whose image you were
created. [Genesis 1:27]
by this way for the such a brief time. [Ecclesiastes 5:18] We look at the people of
the Bible and what they are most remembered for. Cain is probably more talked
about than Abel because he is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Abraham is
remembered for the obedience to God when he placed his son Isaac on the altar of
sacrifice. [Genesis 22] Moses is remembered mostly for one event, the leading of the
Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt and through the parted waters. [Exodus 14:16]
When we speak of Joshua we think of the crossing of the Jordan and the conquering
of Jericho. Then there was Samson; his pride is what got him into trouble and his girl
friend Delilah did not help. When we think of Gideon we think of the 26,000 men he
had to go into battle with yet God said it was too many people, he only needed 300.
[Judges 7:4] Israel was told not to take a King [1 Samuel 8:1-18] and when they did
what were they remembered for? Mostly self-gratification. Saul took on the role of
priest, [1 Samuel 13:9-13] David wanted Bathsheba and did everything wrong to get
her [2 Samuel 2:17] and Solomon took every woman he saw as a wife. Very few of
the Kings that followed ever followed the Lord God, as they should have, even after
warning following warning.
The question that must be asked is how will we be remembered when it is our time to
leave this earth? In the stories of each of these people of the Bible there is a message
for each of us, and a warning.
Cain was full of jealousy, which led to the slaying of his brother Abel. A direct
violation of the Word, [Exodus 20:13] and as Yeshua said hatred is also murder.
[Matthew 5:13] Unforgiveness is usually based on hate, which can of course lead to
actions not of God. Is this what we will be remembered for?
Abraham gave himself over to righteousness [Romans 4:13] as he was obedient to the
will of God. But sadly he is remembered more for the fact he got impatient with God
and took things into his own hands [Genesis 16:1-5] and made a mess of things that
is still causing problems today. Impatience with God can cause us many problems so
will we be remembered for our impatience?
Moses who was told there will be a prophet like you to come [Deuteronomy 18:18]
was disobedient and never gave all the glory to God for all things. [Numbers 20:12]
It is easy to get carried away with the things the Lord is doing in our lives and forget
who should be getting all the praise. So in our lives do we give all the glory to God?
Joshua was given the task of crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. Things went
well for him at times and at other times they did not. He sought the Lord but did he
act on God’s thoughts or his own? People do work on impulses, which sometimes
lead up the wrong path, are our actions directed by the Lord or human impulse?
Samson was fully disobedient of the task God had for him with disastrous results,
blinded and reduced to the role of a donkey milling grain all because of pride. We to
have to ensure that our pride in what the Lord has called us to do does not get in the
way of God’s will.
Then came the Kings, God warned them what will happen but the people did not
listen. There is only one King we should have in our lives and when we look at
earthly kings we can lose focus and take the wide path that leads to destruction. [1
Timothy 6:15]
King Saul trying to kill the opposition, King David killing the opposition and King
Solomon giving in to the opposition by taking on their gods. Here is another picture
of warning for us all. As Christians we find it hard, in fact very hard at times, people
will not listen to the Word, they go their own way and others don’t want the way of
life that is required of them as followers of Yeshua. [Romans 12:16] Yeshua came to
earth as God incarnate to not just paint a picture for us, but to show us in person the
mistakes of the people I have mentioned. Truly, Truly, He said this is the correct way
- listen to my words and see my actions then you will be remembered as the person I
want you to be, a true Child of God, a reflection of the one in whose image you were
created. [Genesis 1:27]