One Too Many

"That's it. I've had it! You've crossed the line; you've messed up one too many times. Now pack your bags and get out. You're no longer welcome in this family."

How many times have these words been spoken by frustrated, disappointed parents to teenagers or young adults who for some reason have not learned to make wise, responsible decisions. Perhaps the wrong choices come as the result of lack of display of love from the parents; perhaps there were no moral or Biblical principles of right and wrong instilled in this child. Perhaps he just developed defiance because he didn't know the right way to handle hurts in life. Who knows? But now, he is forced to face a severe consequence for his actions--his parents have had enough. They refuse to forgive him any longer and help him out of the mess he has created.

Think about your own spiritual life. How many times out of immaturity, or defiance, or unbelief, have we made poor spiritual choices? How many times have we denied our Savior, or told Him one thing, and did another? Have we been fake in our service to Him? Have we quit and given up on the Christian life, doubting His promises to us, only to come back to Him over and over and ask for forgivenss and a fresh start?

Sounds like we (well, if you are like me at all) many times imitate the patterns of the children of Israel.

Psalm 78 gives a beautiful, yet sad description of the history of the children of Israel and their relationship to their God. It outlines the many things that God did for them, and the continual disappointing response of His people. They provoked Him further; they tempted Him in their hearts; they complained against Him; they did not trust Him. But what did God do? He continued to show His great and mighty power, love, forgiveness, and faithfulness to this ungrateful people.

Verses 33-39:
"Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unot Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, niether were they stedfast in His covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time, turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away and comes not again."

Wow. What a God we have. This is the same God we serve today. He understands us, but He doesn't excuse us. He knows our weaknesses, yet commands us to rely on His strength. He is long-suffering and forgiving, but punishes our sin. He IS truth and just, yet He grants mercy. He is the perfect Father. He is love, and gives love, and teaches love, and demonstrates love, and commands love, and wants love.

Sometimes, these characteristics demand that God take strong disciplinary measures in order to show His love for His kids. God had to send His people, the children of Israel, into captivity, and long periods of war to get them to look to Him and trust Him. Yet even in all this, God did not forsake them. He did not turn His back on them. How do I know? Well, at the very end of Psalm 78, after God had sent them into captivity, is a verse that shows me God was still involved with His people. He was looking for hearts that were seeking Him and wanting to please Him. Verses 70-72 say that God chose David from the sheepfolds, to feed His people Israel, according to the integrity that was in his heart.

Do you feel like you have you made "one mistake too many"? Do you doubt whether God can use you with all your past failures? Do you sometimes feel as though God has sent you out into captivity and war, and has left you indefinitely to suffer the consequences for your sin? You know, God does not forsake His kids. He is looking to see if your heart is seeking Him. God can choose you out of a multitude of others who are going the wrong way, just as He chose David. It's up to you to trust Him. Trust Him to be the perfect Father.