-Rev. James Miklos –
In 1969 Frank Sinatra popularized Paul Anka’s song, “My Way”. In this song we see personified the man Adam. Adam’s sin was choosing to do things his way and rejecting God’s way. All human flesh loves to say, “…I did it my way”.
In Proverbs14:12 (NKJV) it reads, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” We can read in Genesis 2:17 where God told Adam “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (NKJV). And continuing, we see how man was tempted to do things their way instead the way the Lord had told them to. The result was spiritual separation from God (or spiritual death), shame, guilt, self-effort to rectify their situation by covering things up, fear, and blaming God and the others involved in the sin (Genesis 3). The result was spiritual death, life long difficulties and struggles and eventual physical death. So here stands my question, is it worth continuing doing things our way or should we do things God’s way?
The Bible is full of excellent examples of people who did things their way. One such example was King Saul of Israel who in the beginning loved God, and was humble. Once anointed king then things began to decline for him. The reason? His concern of what others would think of him. The Bible calls this the fear of man.
“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25 NKJV
The fear of man is a snare, this means it is a trap. This kind of trap meant a certain death to the animal caught in it, therefore for us it means either spiritual destruction or at least costing us in other areas such as family, health, and peace. It is a stressful thing to keep other humans always happy as this is an impossibility. Even trying to keep yourself happy doing things your way is the way of pain and death.
Back to King Saul. In 1 Samuel 15 we read an account where King Saul is instructed by the Lord through the prophet Samuel to destroy all the Amalekites and their livestock. King Saul instead saves king Agag along with the best of the livestock (1 Samuel 15:8-9). That very night the Lord comes to visit the prophet and tells him, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” (Verse 11). When Samuel comes to him the next day the king greets him, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” (Verse 13). But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (Verse 14).
Excuses, kings Saul makes a number of excuses after he lies against the truth. Are we making excuses for our disobedience? Are we doing things our way? Saul said, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me “(verse 20). How many who call themselves Christians claim to be obedient to the word of God, written or spoken, yet have done it their way, where they have added or subtracted to what was said by God Almighty?
Here is what God said through Samuel, ““Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” (Verses 22-23).
What was Saul’s response? Was it true repentance? Notice, “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” (Verses 24-25). Saul admits he sinned because of the obvious because he was backed into the corner where his subterfuge was revealed but then proceeds to make excuses as to why he sinned. Are you like that? Do you make excuses and give reasonings to your disobedience? There is a simple solution but it does involves the pain of humility and possibly humiliation and that is true repentance towards God.
Repentance means the act of turning in the opposite direction and going in the new direction which was exactly opposite to what you were previously doing. This act shows true sorrow concerning ones disobedience towards God. All too often I have heard Christians say, “But, I love the Lord you know!” Well then why are you not repenting and doing things God’s way? Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:5 NKJV). In keeping the commandments, not suggestions, of Jesus Christ we show that we love him.
Saul loved himself more than he loved God because he wanted to do things his way. The first sin of Adam and Eve was the sin of doing and going their own way. This is still prevalent in humanity as it is the way of flesh and original sin in the flesh. It is something we must see, understand, and avoid doing by obeying and doing the will of the Father. We must do the word of the Lord, Bible first, then the leadings of the Spirit. If we add or subtract from the word of God then bad and painful things will happen to us, even possibly eternal damnation (Deuteronomy 4:2: 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19).
King Saul lost the promise that his linage would be a long line of royalty, instead it was given to one who was better than he in heart and obedience, David. David though sinned, as we all humans do, but his heart was towards God rather than towards himself. He sought to do things the Lord’s way rather than singing the words, “I did it my way”.
Are you the the person that sings, “I planned each charted course, each careful step along the highway And more, much more than this, I did it my way”? Or, are you the person who sings these words, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths”? (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
We can choose that is the beauty of freewill!
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