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FOOLING AROUND (2)
'Did Abner die like a fool?' 2 Samuel 3:33
Two opposing armies had come face to face. They had taken up daggers and swords, and both ended up beating the other to a pulp. The fighting just kept going from bad to worse. Abner came face to face with Asahel, and 'struck him in the belly with the blunt end of his spear so hard that it came out his back. Asahel fell to the ground and died at once' (2 Sam. 2: 23).
Now Joab (Asahel's brother) was out to get him! But instead of running into the city of Hebron where he would be protected, Abner allowed the enemy to catch him outside the city gates and kill him. Abner was 'stabbed ... in the belly, killed ... in cold blood' (v27). 'Did Abner die like a fool?'
It sounds a bit Mr T, but it's pretty much true. He knew what to do - and didn't do it. There were no rivers to cross to get to freedom, no mountains to climb, and no price to be paid. The gates of Hebron were open; all he had to do was go in and stay there. A life-saving decision he foolishly chose to ignore.
Jesus calls us to Him. It's sensible to go to Him. It's life-saving. It's life-changing. Most of all, it's the only proper response to the announcement that He is the true King of everything and everywhere.
Don't fool around with what you do with this life. Don't stop short at the gates. Romans 10:9 tells us that when you, '... confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.' What now? Have you ever thought deeply about the good news that Jesus is King? What does it mean?
written by Bob Gass
'Did Abner die like a fool?' 2 Samuel 3:33
Two opposing armies had come face to face. They had taken up daggers and swords, and both ended up beating the other to a pulp. The fighting just kept going from bad to worse. Abner came face to face with Asahel, and 'struck him in the belly with the blunt end of his spear so hard that it came out his back. Asahel fell to the ground and died at once' (2 Sam. 2: 23).
Now Joab (Asahel's brother) was out to get him! But instead of running into the city of Hebron where he would be protected, Abner allowed the enemy to catch him outside the city gates and kill him. Abner was 'stabbed ... in the belly, killed ... in cold blood' (v27). 'Did Abner die like a fool?'
It sounds a bit Mr T, but it's pretty much true. He knew what to do - and didn't do it. There were no rivers to cross to get to freedom, no mountains to climb, and no price to be paid. The gates of Hebron were open; all he had to do was go in and stay there. A life-saving decision he foolishly chose to ignore.
Jesus calls us to Him. It's sensible to go to Him. It's life-saving. It's life-changing. Most of all, it's the only proper response to the announcement that He is the true King of everything and everywhere.
Don't fool around with what you do with this life. Don't stop short at the gates. Romans 10:9 tells us that when you, '... confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.' What now? Have you ever thought deeply about the good news that Jesus is King? What does it mean?
written by Bob Gass
