Wandering is something we are prone to do...

Prone to wander

There is a new program coming to Coosa County.  The Alabama State Troopers have implemented a program called Project Lifesaver.  Basically, this is a program designed to attach a small bracelet to someone who has Autism, Alzheimer’s, Downs Syndrome, and several other conditions which cause these individuals to wander, get lost or confused.  The bracelet has a chip in it that when the code numbers of matched in a database, will emit a signal to a portable receiver, either in the Troopers helicopter or in a patrol vehicle.

A receiver on the ground will give you the location of the person within a two mile radius of the last place they were seen.  If the person cannot be found with the ground receiver, the receiver in the helicopter will enlarge the radius up to approximately 15 miles, and pinpoint the person to within a 100 yards of their location.

Pretty cool technology and you will hear me tell more about it in the weeks to come.  But there is something I am reminded of as I consider this wonderful program.

The Father of Heaven also knows when we wander.  He is perfectly aware that we wander, knows when those times come in our lives, and is kind, loving and compassionate to draw us back into the fold of the flock.    

The old hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” speaks for us all:

“O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee:

Prone to wander Lord I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;

Seal it for Thy courts above.”

 

Page 2 of The Hymnal for Praise and Celebration; Word Music; 1986

Text by: Robert Robinson and adapted by Margaret Clarkson; Music by: Traditional American Melody from John Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music; 1813

 

Wandering is a common problem of believers in general and a problem specifically related to weak believers.  Generally speaking, wandering takes you away from the Lord, away from the close intimate relationship, away from the comforts and consolation of home.  Specifically, wandering is a believer who decides they will enjoy the fruits of the moment, which do not fill or satisfy.  It is rebellion and will lead to a hardening of the heart if it is left unchecked.  Wandering will ultimately leave the believer with a fear of facing the Father with shame and remorse.

David was one who found this to be true in his life.  We find a humble man, a man chosen as a shepherd boy to be King over Israel, by God, while a King still occupied the throne.  He is the young man who would slay the giant with one small stone.  He is the one who would hide in caves for his life, as King Saul and a few other enemies attempted to hunt him down and kill him.  He defeated enemy armies, brought great blessings upon the people of God, returned the Ark of the Covenant to the people, and prepared to build a Temple for God.  In all of those things God had his head upon him and desired to use him in marvelous ways.

Yet, the time came when he, as King, sent his armies to fight and he took a stroll along the roof of his dwelling and below spotted beautiful woman bathing on her balcony.  He sent for her, made her his wife, had her husband killed and had a child by the woman named Bathsheba.  Such a wonderful example of a man chosen by God to be the king?

Bathsheba bore him a male child, but Nathan, the priest came to deliver a parable (2 Samuel 12:1-4) in which David’s sins were revealed (2 Samuel 12:5-10), and pronounced troubles upon David (2 Samuel 12:11-12).  David responded with a contrite heart:

David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  (2 Samuel 12:13 HCSB)

He could have blamed someone else.  He could have had the prophet put to death.  He could have ignored the claims that he and his family would see great struggles because of his decisions.  But instead we see him making confession of his sin. 

God’s Word says that confession is good for the soul.  John is his first epistle writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)  Earlier, James said that we should, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” (James 5:16 KJV)

When David responded with confession, Nathan said:

“The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die. However, because you treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14 HCSB)

 

The wandering King has found forgiveness and favor in the eyes of the Lord.  He is forgiven and will not die…

 

But the little boy will die.  Does that sound fair?  Does that make things even?  Is it worth the price?

 

Sin is a choice we make.  We can choose to remain in fellowship with the Lord or we can choose the paths of sin and sorrow for a season.  It is a choice we make, but we must understand that the choice will make will lead us to consequences we must realize we are going to have to live with.

 

If a man steals, he will have to face the consequences of his decision.  If two teenagers desire to have sex outside of marriage, they must be ready to face the possibility of a child born out of wedlock.  There are consequences to every action.

 

David would have to face his, and it would be immediate.  The scripture reads:

 

The Lord struck the baby that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went [home], and spent the night lying on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. ¹⁸ On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.” ¹⁹ When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. ²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the Lord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested [something to eat]. So they served him food, and he ate. ²¹ His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.” ²² He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live.’ ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”

2 Samuel 12:15-23 (HCSB)

His life was difficult from that moment on, but he knew the grace of God had been extended to him.  He knew that the hand of God was still upon him and that even though there would be various trials and tribulations because of his choices, he was in a right relationship with the God of heaven.

 

Fellow wanderer I encourage you to confess your sins and to walk in His love and His healing.