We Got Stuff

"You have a visitor, my lord." King David looked up from the maps he had been studying. A soldier stood with the prophet, Nathan. He gave a slight nod to his soldier, indicating that he should leave them alone.

"Nathan," he started to say, but the other man held up his hand.

"I've a story to tell you."

David nodded, and moved to sit in the large, cushioned chair by the window. Nathan walked to the window, but instead of looking at David, looked out the window as he spoke.

"There were two men in a certain city. One rich, and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had none of that. All he had was one little lamb, which he had bought. He brought the lamp up, and it grew up with him and his children. It used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his hand. At night, it would lie in his arms. This little lamb was like a daughter to him."

Nathan paused, and the words sunk into David's heart.

"One day a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for his guest. So he took the poor man's lamb, and had it killed and prepared for the man who had come to him."

David shot out of his chair. "This is obscene! An atrocity! No man should treat another so cruelly! As the Lord God lives, this man deserves to die, and he shall repay the poor man fourfold because he did this thing. He had no pity." He ranted and paced around the room, but Nathan didn't move. He continued to stare out the window.

Nathan finally looked away from the window, and right at David. "You are that man!" His own rage punctured each word, and David took a step back as the words hit him.

He was that man.

He was the king! He had done no such thing! David opened his mouth to defend himself, but no words came out.

He was that man.

He had done exactly that with Bathsheba and Uriah.

"Oh, no," he whispered as Nathan took a step toward him, preparing to blast him with the Lord's holy judgement. "What have I done?"

Based on 2 Samuel 12:1-15

Here's the thing. Even Christians sin. We all know this. We all fall short.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Even leaders like King David sinned, and screwed up. We have tons of examples in the Bible of leaders, kings, prophets, judges, and teachers who have sinned.

These people all had areas of sin in their lives, but it didn't stop them from still trying to live for God. Someone can have an anger problem, but still be amazing at Bible study and teaching. Someone can struggle with fear and doubt, but still have an intimate relationship with God. Do you guys see what I'm saying?

WE ALL HAVE STUFF IN OUR LIVES. And it doesn't matter if you are the pastor of a mega TV church, or if you are a high school student just trying to survive the daily temptations and trials. We all have areas where we fall short.

The reason I wrote about King David being busted by the prophet Nathan for his sin with Bathsheba is because this is the part that matters. This is like one of the worst case scenarios of sin. David had an affair with a married woman, and murdered her husband so he could have her all to himself. But when Nathan busted him, he repented.

David was a man after God's own heart. He didn't let his kingly position keep him from realizing he had sinned, nor did he let the fact that he had failed drive a wedge between him and God. He repented. This is the important part guys. No matter who you are, what your call, or how strong you are in the Lord, you screw up. You are that man. The important thing is that you recognize this when you are called on the carpet and ask God's forgiveness.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:8-10

V. Joy Palmer