You Suck – So What?

Synopsis     1Sam 28:17-29:2     11/2/2018

Saul and Samuel conversed. Samuel was dead but a medium from Endor had conjured his spirit at Saul’s request. Samuel informed Saul that the army of Israel would lose its battle against the Philistines. And Samuel also told Saul that both he and his sons would be killed the next day.

Samuel’s message devastated Saul. Because of his anxiety, he had not eaten for the entire day. In fact, he was so weak that the medium prepared a meal for him. After he ate, he felt revived. And then Saul returned to his army that was encamped at Jezreel.

Saul Missed The Boat

Saul is roundly criticized because he lived a failed life. At least, that is how his life is widely, and perhaps rightly, interpreted. But it never had to end this way. He could have chosen differently at any moment.

But he didn’t. God gave him potential. Like everyone, it came to him moment-by-moment. And moment-by-moment he consistently wasted what he had been given.

You Suck – So What?

In our time, it’s seems odd to even speak in these terms. The post-modern tendency is the want to believe that no one lives a “failed” life.

But despite this, we intuitively and rightly hang on to the language of success. Though we resist judging someone else’s life as a “failure”, we innately perceive success.

Successful people are those who have converted their potential into actual achievements. They had time. They had resources. And they had personal gifts. They used these to create value. And that’s what most people call success.

So, the opposite is failure.

But, here’s the rub: no one converts all their potential. Even the most successful people waste most of their time and resources. So, it’s fair to say that we have all failed.

And, of course, that’s the fundamental Christian claim. We have all failed. And especially, we have all failed our Creator. In other words, we have all lived failed lives. So it follows, we need a Savior.

And, God saved me. So now, I have a relationship with Him. Still, as I look at my life of wasted potential, I’m tempted to self-pity. I think to myself, “I SUCK”. I feel depressed.

OK, so let’s face that. Maybe it’s true. Maybe “you suck”. So what?

God has given you a new moment. He’s created for you one more moment in time. Use it.

Go out and love God. Go out and love your neighbor as yourself.

“Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you” Isaiah 60:1