Once upon a time there was a man, a rich man. He was a good man, too. In fact, he was a Godly man. Or so everyone thought. He reasoned that because he was a good man that his goodness far outweighed his, let’s say, shortcomings. He had done so much good and served God that it just wasn’t possible that he should come to no good end.
Then the day came. He died and passed from this earth. Upon arriving in heaven, which was where he expected to be, he was shown into the great accounting room. It was an immense room with files that reached up as far as the eye could see. And they were standing in rows and columns all around the room.
In the center of the room was a great table and someone sitting in a chair with such a tall back that he couldn’t see who it was. “Welcome.” said the voice from the other side of the chair. “Everyone comes here before their admittance. You see, I must check my files and see if you have any unforgiven sins on your records before you are admitted.” Just then beads of perspiration formed on the man’s forehead. His heart began to race…Suddenly, he jerked awake. “Thank God,” he said. “I’m not dead.”
This could have been David. King David of ancient times. Up until Nathan paid him a visit, David was certain that his “secret sins” were secret. The story is in 2 Samuel Chapter 12. The prophet Nathan went to King David and told him a story about a rich man taking a prized ewe lamb from a poor man. Reading the text is pretty dramatic. Enough so that it infuriated David. He wanted to go out and hang this rich arrogant man from the nearest tree. The shocker was that Nathan pointed at David and told him that he was that man. That’s when it dawned on David that the Lord sent Nathan to set before him his sin.
“For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” (Luke 12:2) There is a day of reckoning that is coming for each and everyone on the face of the earth. David, once his sin was set before him, was contrite. The Lord had chosen him to lead Israel. He had blessed him many times over, David had much to be thankful for. And, yet, he had backslidden. Is there repentance for the lamb who has strayed from the fold and, now, wants to return? Isaiah 1:18 says to that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. David was like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He had strayed but when he came to his senses, he returned to his God. The proof of it is in Psalm 51. It is a passionate plea for God’s mercy and grace. Everyone should read it.
Then the day came. He died and passed from this earth. Upon arriving in heaven, which was where he expected to be, he was shown into the great accounting room. It was an immense room with files that reached up as far as the eye could see. And they were standing in rows and columns all around the room.
In the center of the room was a great table and someone sitting in a chair with such a tall back that he couldn’t see who it was. “Welcome.” said the voice from the other side of the chair. “Everyone comes here before their admittance. You see, I must check my files and see if you have any unforgiven sins on your records before you are admitted.” Just then beads of perspiration formed on the man’s forehead. His heart began to race…Suddenly, he jerked awake. “Thank God,” he said. “I’m not dead.”
This could have been David. King David of ancient times. Up until Nathan paid him a visit, David was certain that his “secret sins” were secret. The story is in 2 Samuel Chapter 12. The prophet Nathan went to King David and told him a story about a rich man taking a prized ewe lamb from a poor man. Reading the text is pretty dramatic. Enough so that it infuriated David. He wanted to go out and hang this rich arrogant man from the nearest tree. The shocker was that Nathan pointed at David and told him that he was that man. That’s when it dawned on David that the Lord sent Nathan to set before him his sin.
“For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” (Luke 12:2) There is a day of reckoning that is coming for each and everyone on the face of the earth. David, once his sin was set before him, was contrite. The Lord had chosen him to lead Israel. He had blessed him many times over, David had much to be thankful for. And, yet, he had backslidden. Is there repentance for the lamb who has strayed from the fold and, now, wants to return? Isaiah 1:18 says to that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. David was like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He had strayed but when he came to his senses, he returned to his God. The proof of it is in Psalm 51. It is a passionate plea for God’s mercy and grace. Everyone should read it.
