08/01/2024 - COULD BE THE BEGINNING

• 
• 
• 
• 

 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”  1 Samuel 5.7

The people of Ashdod interpreted the hemorrhoid crises as a sign of divine dissatisfaction with the fact that they had kept the ark of Israel’s Testimony. In part, those men were right, but God allowed them to have the ark to, in fact, remind them that their god was just a bad thought, because he didn’t even exist. This happens when people live religiously, worshipping human inventions (Psalm 115.1-8)!

When someone sees the path they are on in the light of the Word, they can see the problem they are in. Then they can free themselves completely, because the Holy Spirit will enlighten them and show them salvation. This is what Jesus meant when he said: And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). By knowing the Scriptures, people become successful materially and spiritually.

If the Philistines had humbled themselves before God, the curse brought by the ark would have turned into victory. Instead of inflammation, there would be prosperity in everything they put their hands to, wouldn’t there? There’s a problem with the saved. They believe that if the ungodly are converted, they will be treated as children and receive the blessings that Jesus won. But for themselves, members of God’s family, they don’t have the same certainty!

Why don’t many saved people believe that the Bible tells the truth? When it comes to the lost, there is no doubt that God wants to bless them, but when it comes to the saved, their hearts are not firm in the Most High. So they say that something is wrong, because they ask and do not receive; they seek but do not find; they knock, but the door is never opened to them (Matthew 7.7-11). They need to examine the Word to see where they are doing wrong (James 4:3). Examine yourself!

The Philistines recognized the sovereignty of the Most High when they said that His hand was hard on Dagon. Now, if their god couldn’t stand up to the true God, they realized that the idol was useless. He who has the power has control of everything! Why didn’t they make the right decision and start serving the only God? No one can come to Jesus unless the Father brings him (John 6:44). So turn to the Lord and He will save you!

The Philistines didn’t want the ark or what was inside it. However, if they had wanted the salvation that would be prepared by the Messiah when He came into the world, they would have seen that their names and those of their families would be written in the Book of Life, just as ours have already been (Revelation 3.5; 20.12-15). One of the saddest facts is knowing that some of our family members will not be among those redeemed by Christ. Without being born again, no one will enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3)!

Those men only regretted the harshness of God’s hand. How could the Almighty give them forgiveness and other blessings if they rejected the Truth? They should deny their impotent and false god and accept the God of Israel forever. Whoever denies the Lord a place in their life will not be spared at the Savior’s return (John 3:36). This is the great crisis awaiting humanity. Believe in Jesus to be saved!

In Christ, with love,

R.R. Soares