The Assumption

 "Then she cried out, 'Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!' When he woke up he thought, 'I will do as before and shake myself free.' But he didn't realize the Lord had left him." Judges 16:20...."After the celebration was over, they (His parents) started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss Him at first, because they assumed he was with friends among the other travelers." Luke 2:43-44...."Mary and Joseph supposed He was with them, and He was not." Leonard Ravenhill

The above Scriptures depict two very different but equally frightening instances. Both assumed the presence of the Lord in their situation, and both were completely wrong.

Samson was a judge raised up by God to be an advocate and defender of His people, particularly against the Philistines, who had oppressed Israel for so long. Samson had been gifted not only with the presence and anointing of God, but also with great, superhuman strength. The Father intended that he should live his life in dedication to Him, and to the people he'd been sent to. He only did so in part. In the main, Samson was dedicated to himself and his appetites. These eventually gained the upper hand, and as a result, Samson lost the anointing, presence, and strength that he'd been given. He'd walked in disobedience for too long. Tragically, he was oblivious to this, and when he was tricked by Delilah, he was easily overcome by his enemies. He thought he still possessed His presence and power. He didn't, and he paid a terrible price.

We can more easily understand this kind of withdrawal of the Lord. Open disobedience and sin will always cause His Holy Spirit to withdraw. It will also make our ability to discern that withdrawing far more difficult. We become hardened and resistant to Him. We won't notice His departure. What happens with the parents of Jesus is different, yet has the same result. Joseph and Mary had assumed Jesus was among the train of travelers returning to their homes. Likely, as they went, having completed a spiritual celebration in Jerusalem, they sang, continued to celebrate, and traveled with great joy. Yet their beloved son was missing, and they didn't know it. They traveled for a full day before they realized it. When they did, they rushed back to find Him.

The first of these instances shows the cost of sin and disobedience to the believer. We cannot and will not have His blessing and presence upon and in our lives. When we rebel against His word and will, we will suffer the consequences. Only repentance will restore that which was lost. However, in the second instance we see a loss that is much more subtle, but just as devastating. Joseph and Mary had taken for granted that Jesus was with them in their journey. They were caught up in the continuing celebration and to such an extent that they didn't notice that He wasn't. This taking for granted had dulled their senses to His presence. I think in this, we see the state of many, and our fellowships as well. Might it be the state of yours and mine? Of you, and of me?

Like the travelers, we can be singing the songs, sharing the messages, doing all the religious things, and yet not realize that we no longer have Him at the center of it all. He's missing from that which is supposedly all about Him. We've not cultivated His presence, not dwelt in it, and so, didn't notice when He had withdrawn from us. As someone said, the Holy Spirit comes with great power, but He leaves very quietly. We tend not to notice. We've assumed His presence for too long, and like Samson, we too will pay a terrible price.

When Joseph and Mary realized their loss, they rushed back to find Him. If we have suffered such loss, will we? Nothing was going to keep them from rejoining their beloved son. What is keeping us from rejoining our beloved Jesus? As individuals and as fellowships, are we determined to lay hold of Him anew in order that once again, we are living in His presence?

Samson, blinded and in chains, once again sought his god, and once again, had His presence and strength restored to him. He brought destruction upon the enemies of His people. Where in our lives has our disobedience, sin, and rebellion caused us to lose His presence and favor? Will we, in those places, repent of it, and return to Him? Will we do this as both individuals and fellowships?

Someone said that Jesus is being lost in the faith that bears His name. Where is He being lost in us? Do we continue to assume He's with us when He isn't? Have our false assumptions so dulled our spiritual senses, that we continue on in the deception that He is? Whatever the reason for it, be it the open disobedience of Samson, or the taking for granted attitude of His parents, will we repent of it, and seek Him once more, with all our hearts? Or, will keep on in our deception, and one day pay a price too awful to contemplate?

Blessings,

Pastor O