Original Entry:
September 14, 2011
McMinnville, OR
“For the righteous man falls several times and rises
again.” Proverbs 24:16
Stop for a moment and
consider the answer to this question, “What do Moses, David, and Sampson have
in common?”
Answer, they each
killed men. They led God’s people. They are Old Testament characters. They all had a period of stumbling in their
faith journey. They all finished their faith journey in a positive way. They are all listed in the Faith Hall of Fame
of Hebrews chapter 11.
The Faith Hall of
Fame?
Think about it.
David murdered one of
his mighty men to cover up his betrayal.
Moses murdered a man. Sampson, well,
let’s say Sampson had issues with women. In spite of their obvious depravity
they are inductees into God’s Faith Hall of Fame.
Why?
These men lived out Proverbs
24:16 that says, “the
righteous man falls several times and rises again.”
This is the
rebound effect. When the choice to sin throws a man off the
backboard how he rebounds from failure makes all the difference in the world. These
men had a faith so fierce that they knew God would always receive them back.
Look at Peter.
His life lacked
refinement. He constantly spoke out of
place, boasted ignorantly, denied knowing Jesus, and even cut off a man’s
ear. But Peter always bounced back.
That is what a man
does; he rebounds. He repents. He learns from his sin. No one is perfect. All men sin (Romans 3:23), but how will you rebound when you fail? Will it slam dunk you in the pit of sin or
will you be the kind of man strong enough to rebound?
