by Steven Chan
22 February 2009
In 1Sa 8:5 the people of Israel said to Samuel “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” Similarly in 1Ki 12:16, when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. As a result of their dissatisfaction with their predicaments, justified or otherwise, they chose to come up with their own solutions rather than to seek God.
This seems to be the common reason why some depart from the faith. They are not happy with some things or events that may be happening to or around them. Perhaps some find the preacher being too legalistic, or some find the preacher to emphasize too much on the being a nice person rather than being a righteous person. So the listeners rebel and try to find their own solution. Unfortunately they often end up with a solution that God has not sanctioned. Two wrongs do not make a right.
In John 6:60-68, there were some teachings of Jesus that the disciples were not comfortable with. Many chose not to follow Jesus thereafter. But Peter said the right thing. Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou has the words of eternal life. That should be our attitude through life. We should not allow our discontentment with circumstances or individuals affect the truth concerning God and the Bible. Our feelings may change; but God’s truth changes not.
