Unmasked | Kryptonite | When the Lord Leaves

“I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Judges 16:20

This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible because it mirrors the attitude of thousands of professing Christians. “I can handle this,” they say. “I’ve got time to ask forgiveness. You only live once. It’s just one drink, one pill, one party, one night at the casino or in a cheap motel. I’ll straighten up later, when I’m old, married, boring, responsible.” So they continue to live like the devil’s party planner, while he assures them that they’ll “shake themselves free” when they’re ready. They assume God will be eagerly waiting when they’ve decided to come to their senses. But they do not know that the Lord has left them.

What does it look like when the Lord leaves? It looks like nothing. Everything seems normal. There are no thunderbolts, earthquakes, or a sense of loss. We assume, like Samson, that we can go out as before. It worked yesterday, why not today? We become so used to directing our own lives that we never notice when the Lord walks away. We’ve quietly swapped the Bible’s definition of a Christian for our own and assume it doesn’t matter. We’re close enough, right? Since we no longer feel bad about that overt sin we’re indulging in, we decide that God has gotten used to it too. But lack of conviction does not equal God’s approval. It means He’s given us what we demanded and left us to our rebellion. The saddest part? We do not know it.

Final Thought:  If we can sin without conviction that leads to repentance, it may be because the Lord has left us.
Prayer: Lord, this makes me look more closely at my heart. Am I doing what Samson did? Am I abusing your grace by my choices? I confess it now. Show me what must change so that you feel welcome in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.