The Consequences of Worldliness But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21) The demise of Samson was a result of worldliness. -He went to the places of the world (Philistia), -fraternized with the people of the world (Philistines), -and engaged in the pleasures of the world (evil women—Delilah). The consequences of this worldliness of Samson were very great and devastating as they are to Christians who become worldly. Our verse speaks of some of these consequences. They involved the loss of power, the loss of sight, the loss of honor, the loss of freedom, and the loss of joy. Loss of power. The Philistines took him. They were able to take Samson because he had lost his power when he got his hair cut as a result of his worldly friendships. Worldliness will destroy your spiritual power. The typical church member has no power over temptation because he is so worldly. Loss of sight. Put out his eyes. Samson not only lost his physical sight through worldliness; but worse he also his spiritual sight; for Scripture says, He knew not that the Lord had departed from him (Judges 16:20). Loss of honor. Brought him down to Gaza. Worldliness will bring you down in honor. Sin promises honors, but it is a lie just as Satan lied about promotion through sin in the Garden of Eden. Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) Loss of freedom. Bound him with fetters of brass. Worldliness takes away freedom. When you refuse temptation, the world will say you are restricted by being a Christian. But it is sin that brings bondage. Drug addicts are a good illustration of how sin binds and takes away freedom. Holiness gives the greatest freedom of all. Loss of joy. He did grind in the prison house. Samson was not happy in Philistia grinding away in the prison house. He was one bitter and unhappy man. So worldliness never makes people happy. The pleasures of sin are short and only lead to great unhappiness. You will never meet a happy worldly Christian. John G. Butler
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:39:23 +0000
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