Getting Back To God - Seriously !
1 Samuel 7: 1-14
1 Samuel 7:3. "And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
The Israelites had turned away from their God and indulged in the worship of idols such as Baalim and Ashtaroth. After twenty years without the blessings of the one true God, the Israelites had a change of heart and desired the restoration of a proper relationship with their Lord. Samuel, God’s prophet, speaks to the people. If they are serious about getting back to God, they must put away all idols and false gods. They must make a definite decision to serve God and Him alone. If the Israelites were to do this, there was a promise of God’s blessing in that God would deliver them from their oppressors, the Philistines.
Sadly, there are many men and women who once knew the blessings of a Christian home, a good church, a Christian school and college. Many professed to be saved through faith in Christ and made known their desire to serve the Lord, but then turned their backs on God. For years they have missed out on the blessings of God as they serve other gods such as the pursuit of riches, prestige, sports, sinful pleasures. If you are one of these folks, you may have come to the point in your life where you are lamenting after the Lord. Are you serious about getting back to God? The Lord is patiently waiting for your return. But you must do your part. The Israelites confessed their sin and that they had sinned against the Lord (1 Samuel 7:6). Following Samuel’s instructions they then had to put away all idols and false gods and choose to serve the Lord and Him only. You can do likewise. Won’t you return unto the Lord today? Isaiah 55:6,7 "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon".
Dr. Russell Harpur