His carcase… in the way (I Kings 13 : 24)
THERE ARE MANY people who start well in the Christian life but do not finish well. Very few can say with Paul : “I have finished my course.” Behind many a clever excuse there is a cunning enemy of the Christian Church who is out to damage our spiritual progress. Some are diverted by an unequal yoke in marriage; others are diverted by the thought of material gain in this life, and so on. In the story in this chapter we have a very sad incident.
A splendid young man receives a commission from God to go and speak out against the evil altar of the wicked king Jeroboam. Fearlessly he does so, but the king gets so angry that, pointing over to the young prophet, he cries: “Lay hold on him.” However, in that very moment, his hand dries up and he is unable to pull it in again (v. 4). Now when the king sees that God has smitten him, he immediately intreats the young man, “Pray for me.” (Just like so many today who want us to pray for them only when they are in trouble!) When the young man did so, the Lord immediately answered his prayer. So overjoyed was the king that he invited the young man to come to the palace to receive a reward. However, the young man bluntly refused because he had been warned by the Lord to eat no bread and to drink no water in that place. He turned and went his way. However, an old prophet hastened after him, and told him that the Lord had spoken to him and that he was to invite the young man to come into his home and have some food. This old prophet actually lied to the young man and managed to persuade him to come back with him. During the meal, the old prophet spoke to the young man and told him that because he had disobeyed the Word of the Lord which had been given to him he would have an untimely death. After the meal the young lad had not gone very far until a lion slew him. What a dramatic story, so full of vital truth for these days!
The first lesson is one of a splendid start.
How many fine young people hear the call of God and bravely step out to do what they know to be the Will of God! Sometimes they have faced the most terrible opposition and yet have done so with a joy and a peace obviously born of God. It is not always easy to stand for God in modern colleges and universities, yet many Christian young folks are doing so in a splendid way. Even when the king tried to buy this young man over by suggesting that he come to the palace and be refreshed and rewarded, the youth’s conscience came before his comfort. He was determined to do the Will of the Lord right to the end in spite of the attractive offer from royalty. An offer like that has tripped up many a man who might have been a force for God. However, he did not even take time to think it all over, the Will of God meant too much to this young servant of the Lord. Alas, there are many in our and today who are afraid to think much about the Will of God for all too well they know that somewhere, sometime ago, something came into their lives and the Will of God was not even considered. Today they lie on the shelf of spiritual unemployment. Let us, however, compliment this young man for his splendid start. Nothing could at that time divert him, not even promotion, or prominence.
On he went knowing that he had done the work of the Lord and that the Lord had stood by him and vindicated him.
Now notice, a subtle suggestion.
How often over the years we have watched the cunning enemy coming back at us with the same temptation dressed up in an even more clever disguise! Satan does not leave us because we have won a great victory. He is out to divert us from doing our utmost in a consistent way right to the end of our earthly pilgrimage. We watch the young man in our story as a second attempt is made to bring him crashing down from the high road of further splendid service. An old prophet living right in Bethel, who for some reason or another was not being used by God to stand against the king and his altar, cunningly comes along to our young hero. By lies and subtlety this clergyman persuades the prophet whom God has used to return home with him and to have food with him in his house. He tells the young man that an angel has given him further revelation and that he has found out the Will of God for him. It is amazing how many people, who have been in the ranks of the Church for many years, do not like to see younger people taking their place. Is it jealousy or is it that they are now out of touch with God and no longer the force for God that they used to be? Has something come into their lives which no one knows about other than themselves and God, and the fact is that they are no longer leading the people of God forward into spiritual experiences in the way that they once did? One thing is certain-there are many older Christians whose unfortunate conversation in no way encourages spirituality in our youth! O, how many Christians there are who are going to have an embarrassing time when they come to face the judgement seat of Christ! Some of the things they have said have upset new converts and young people insomuch that they have caused them to backslide! There are thousands of backsliders in our land today because of the treatment they have received from people who, like this old prophet, should have had more sense and not spoken to them as they did. Good godly leaders are scarce enough without choking any who might be much used of God in days to come. See the young man, who, having stood firm in the public gaze, in front of the king and the crowd, is now being tripped up in private; Samson was like that. He had ample muscular strength, but in other ways he was so weak.
Many a Christian who seems able to take a bold stand for truth and right is more easily tripped in the net of secret sin. Others who in the Church seem to be strong leaders are not so consistent when it comes to their business life or even their home life. In your private life, in your financial dealings, are you as strong and forthright in all things as you would be if they were wholly exposed to the public gaze? Again, many stand firm in the big things who fall down on the lesser things. Are there such things as small sins in the eyes of God? Watch as we see the young prophet being diverted and yet in the company of one who is a believer.
Consider in conclusion a sad sequel.
This young man succumbed to letting someone else tell him the Will of God in his life. He was so sincere that when this old prophet spoke about a revelation he had just received regarding the Will of God, he fell for it. Never Let anyone find the Will of God for your life! God is perfectly able to reveal Himself and His will to you directly. Secondhand revelations for your life are usually dangerous. Whenever someone comes along with a great story of a vision he has had involving you, be on your guard. Whether this involves a marriage, a mission-field or a multitude of other issues, remember that God is graciously willing to reveal Himself to you and shew you what He would have you to do. When this is confirmed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that is entirely different (Acts 13: 2). See the tragedy of this diversion. See the many other great projects he might have led for God and think of the number of lives he might have influenced for God had he not allowed his life to be thus diverted. What a thought for us all today!
There are two ways of being diverted. We can be diverted out of service altogether or we can be diverted into a much lesser realm of service. Both are very sad.
In closing let me ask you a personal and a very direct question. Is it true that in some way best known to your-self, you have been diverted? If so, do not allow yourself to settle down to accepting what you might be tempted to say is unfortunate but irrevocable.
Mark this young man’s carcase lying in the way (v. 24). Do not step over it and continue on the road to disaster.
Come, my friend, be strong about it, and with deep determination as well as humility of spirit, get back into harness for God.
Rev John James 