Delilah Always Had Nice Legs!

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13).
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24).

See also Judges 13:1-16:30

It has been awhile since my last blog post. The month of September has been a very busy month for our house. Everything from our youngest son’s 1st birthday party, to a kitchen and bath makeover. I have found that time had seemed to slip through my hands each and every evening after work. I had begun to feel an empty void in my life. Something was not right. When storms came during this time, I had doubt and fear within my heart. My heart had actually grown cold. A Christian with a cold heart is not a good thing. I had felt defeated by life itself.

It took attending bible study at my wife’s grandparents house for me to figure out what was missing. Being in a room with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and reading His Word answered my questions. It hit me like a ton of cinderblocks. During late August and most of September I had no relationship with The Lord. I didn’t even crack open my Bible. Prayer was stretched very thin. I was simply distracted.

This reminds of a story in the Bible. Way back in the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, is a man who epitomizes distraction. Although there were many in the Bible who got distracted, I would like to talk about Samson.

Samson was quite an interesting character. He is known for being ridiculously strong and for having long hair. He might have been mistaken as a competitor in the WWE. But looks aside, we are introduced to Samson telling his Father to go fetch a Philistine woman that he had been eyeing. You see, Samson had the google eyes for this Philistine woman, yet he was an Israelite. Philistines were known for paganism and that’s a big “no no” in Israel. Samson and the Philistines went on to making life miserable for each other through riddles and quarrels.

Anyway, many moons and one torched first wife later we meet Delilah. Samson fell head over heels in love with Delilah. They spent much loving time together. One day Delilah is paid off by the Philistine mob to bind Samson so they could capture him and have their way. ‘Cuz no one messes with tha “Philly Mob”. She tricks Samson three times, and each time he breaks free before the mob could get him. I think after the second time I would suspect something was up. But not Samson! He was blinded dumb by his love for Delilah. Finally, with his head in her lap, she asks “Mmmm, honey? Where does your strength come from?” he replies “Baby, my long flowing hair is what gives me my strength. If you cut it, I am as weak as a baby.” Enter Flowbee, Exit God.

Nonetheless, Samson gets tied up, has his eyes plucked out, and is tossed into prison and made to work. They occasionally bring him up from prison so that he can entertain them. “Dance for us Samson! Dance for us you fool! Ha Ha!!!” they would say. Until one day Samson asks the guard who had been watching over him to place his hands on the pillars of the temple. He asks God to give him the strength one more time…then he “brings down tha house!” Every Philistine died including Samson himself. Scripture tells us that he killed more in that single move than in any battle.

In this story we see a man (Samson), and his distraction (Delilah). Someone so beautiful that he lost sight of the prize and submitted what God had given him. Then he lost it all. So let me ask this- What or who is your “Delilah”?

Is your “bills to be paid” stack twice higher than your “paid bills” stack? Is college football getting to be your number one passion? Are you striving and fighting to impress your boss so you can get that big promotion? Are your children forgetting your face because of those late nights? Are you compromising yourself? That big test getting you out of whack? Is it something more or something less?

Is your “Delilah” the bottom of the bottle? Maybe you see her face in every exhale of smoke. Is she the face that pops up on your computer screen when no one is looking? Is she starring in the vile movie or singing in that secular song you like so much? Is she driving that car that just cut you off, and now you want to kill her? Maybe, just maybe, she isn’t the woman that you are married to. Just another set of arms to give you temporary solace, only to lead you further into your Hell. And now you stand…weak and blind.

What is it that has caused you to stumble and fall? What has caused your walk with our Savior to be weakened, or completely forgotten? What is your “Delilah”? We all have one, had one, or will have one. Even if we “had one”, she will be back. She always comes back. She may not look the same every time, but she comes back. Our options are to let her in, or lock the door. Although she is beautiful, she can be defeated. You may say “I have tried, but I cannot win”. Instead change the theme of your song:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Through the blood of Jesus Christ can we have the strength to defeat our “Delilah”. Only He can save us and bring us to God. Only He can show us how to live. Only through His words can we have the strength to win. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness for you letting Delilah get to you. Ask for that redeeming blood to cover you. Ask to be saved if you haven’t already. Come to Jesus! Cry out His name!

I cried out His name again two weeks ago and came running back to Him. He gave the forgiveness that I asked for. I felt that weight lift from me as He touched me. Then my heart was set ablaze once again. Just like an old furnace started back up to warm the home once more. Thank you Jesus!

So here you are. Weak and blind. You can’t see those who are mocking you. “He was once a strong Christian, now he’s a joke.” Maybe it’s your co-workers. Your neighbors. Your spouse. Your children. Yourself.

Step up to the pillars. If you are too weak ask Jesus to place your hands upon them. After all, He is the guard who has been watching over you. Then ask for the strength again, and bring the house down on all of them and yourself. But not physically, no. That would be murder. But spiritually. Let that house of sin, guilt, distractions and unforgiveness fall and kill you and those who mock.

Samson died physically. But because of Jesus Christ you will rise again. Your mockers that I mentioned will too. Their views will change:
“He is a good Christian man. He laid his ‘Delilah’ to rest. She was such a joke!”

Remember the scene from “Wizard Of Oz”, when Dorothy looked down and the house had landed on top of the Wicked Witch? Remember seeing those legs sticking out from underneath the house?
Delilah always had nice legs;-)

Love In Christ!