Hope Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: "Hope" ------------- Date: 10/10/1998 Keywords: "hope" "worthwhile" "miracles" "renewing" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The story of Samson (Judges 13-16) depicts the tragedy that can result from giving in to lust. Let us see what we can learn from his experience. Passage: Judges 16:25-30 * 25 It so happened when they were in high spirits, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may amuse us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women, and all the lords of the Philistines were there. And about 3,000 men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was amusing them. 28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. Questions 1. Thinking back to the first lesson on Samson, was this the result God had planned for Samson's life? Even so, was this not a great and glorious conclusion to Samson's life and his tenure as a judge?   2. How did Samson accomplish this spectacular feat?   3. Do you ever think that because of the depth of your sin you could not possibly do anything worthwhile in the future?   4. Do you ever think you need to earn your way back into God's love or his plan?   Practical help Samson was unable to drive out the Philistines the way God wanted him to. He was able to destroy many of the leaders, but only because God enabled him to do it. It was a fluke of architecture that so many people were able to enter a building which was structurally supported by two pillars less than one armspan apart. And it was a fluke of nature that one man was strong enough to pull it all down. But there is another word for these types of flukes: Miracles. And despite how deep Samson had sunk into his sins of lust, self-reliance, and violating his vows to God, god used Samson AS SOON AS Samson began to rely upon God again.   (He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. - Titus 3:5-7)   There is hope for you. No matter what you have done in the past, God can still salvage you. No matter how much time, energy and money you have spent on Internet pornography, God can free you from your sin and use you in His plan. It will require you to sacrifice your life. This does not necessarily mean physical death -- more likely it means putting to death your lusts and spending your time, energy and money pursuing God. But the joy and guilt-free life that results from this is abundant -- and well worth the sacrifice.   If you have never experienced the Hope that comes from knowing your sins are forgiven, or are not sure, click here.   eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."