The unbelieving world celebrates when Christian leaders get shipwrecked. It often seems that the more spectacular the Christian celebrity falls from grace the better. Perhaps some people see this as justification for rejecting Christianity and ultimately the Lord Jesus Christ. People love scandals.
I must confess that I’ve also been caught up watching some of these shipwrecks over the years and more recently. I’ve talked about them and read about them – more than I should. Spiritual shipwrecks can be an inordinate distraction when they ought to be a personal warning.
The fall of Solomon
In his little book “The Gospel-Shaped Life” Ian Hamilton uses Solomon as an example of someone who started off the right way (1 Kings 3:5-14). When God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he desired, Solomon asked for wisdom,
Now, O LORD my God, You have made your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?
This pleased God. Thus Solomon’s wish was granted, and more! But by 1 Kings 11, Solomon has accumulated 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. Furthermore these wives turned his heart to idolatry. He began worshiping other gods (Ashtoreth, Milcom and Molech etc). Hamilton writes that, “Solomon had every advantage in life but he descended into unimaginable wickedness.”
What Happened?
Hamilton calls it the mystery of iniquity. He writes that there is no rationality to sin. “Who in their right mind would exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the creator? (Rom 1:25).” One response can be found in Jer 17:9,
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
Solomon started well but he began to compromise. He disobeyed in little things (i.e., with Pharaoh’s daughter) and his downfall grew. Hamilton notes that sin is an unholy master and Satan always seeks the Christian’s downfall. This is why Paul exhorted the church about putting to death the deeds of the body (Rom 8:13-14).
The Lesson for us
What happened to Solomon and others who have fallen spiritually can happen to us. I’m no better than David or Solomon or anyone one of the celebrity Christians who have fallen from grace. It can begin ever so insidiously slowly with tiny seemingly innocuous compromises.
Hamilton gives us some verse of caution,
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mat 26:41
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor 10:12
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1Peter 5:8
Hamilton gives us a sage warning: “However blessed and spiritually privileged you have been to this moment, you are a step and breath away from making shipwreck of your soul.”
I know that this is true of me. How about you? Watch therefore and pray.
Maranatha!
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