by Jacob Ninan
Now and then we come to crossroads in our life's journey where we make choices that can even change the direction of our life itself or have a major impact over our life. But we may not always be aware at that time where these roads are going to lead us in the end and how significant the choice is that we are about to make. We may not recognise that some of these situations are tests where we are to choose between following God and our own ways. They can not only affect our personal life but even the ministry God has for us. If we choose our own way, it may ultimately lead us to much sorrow and suffering on one side, or to the place where we lack the anointing from God to produce the kind of fruit that He wanted us to have.
When the consequences of our choice hit us later, if we are humble we may be able to understand where our problems began. But it is also possible that we cannot see our mistakes even then but we become upset with God instead. Nevertheless, a lot of damage may already have been done, and there may be many things we cannot reverse.
Let us look at some examples. "David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and did not deviate from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite" (1Ki.15:5). This was 'a man after God's own heart', the song writer and worship leader of Israel. What a glorious name he would have had throughout time, except for this one thing. What David did with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah were things we would never have expected from him. That one incident changed the entire course of David's life and reign.
We know how well Solomon started as a king, how he did not seek things for himself but wisdom to rule over the people well, how he built and dedicated the temple for God, etc. But he went wrong when he began to marry wives from heathen kingdoms (1Ki.11:1). And when he became old, this man who had dedicated the temple of God with great zeal declaring that there was no other god like Him, began to worship and offer sacrifices to heathen gods following the pressure from his foreign wives (v.4).
King Asa of Judah was so loyal to God that He sent a prophet to encourage him to continue to be loyal (2Chr.15:7,8). Yet this same king, when he was confronted with a difficult political situation, dishonoured God by taking out silver and gold from God's temple to buy support from a neighbouring king (2Chr.16:1,2). God sent another prophet to rebuke the king (v.7). But Asa got angry with this prophet and put him in jail!
People like these had many things which God appreciated, but then something happened that spoilt their name entirely. How would it be that when God talks about us, He would have to say that there were so many commendable things about us, except for something here or there? That is the power of compromise.
As we walk in the way of life, we come to a fork in the road. There are possibilities ahead of us. We can choose to go on the narrow path that leads to life, even if that would mean denying ourselves many things that appeal to us, or we can choose the broad way that will give us many pleasures now but will finally lead to destruction. We may imagine that no one will know or that somehow we can manage to get the best of both worlds. Sometimes our eyes may be so enamoured by what the broad way is offering us that we would like to believe that nothing bad will happen to us because we are children of God and there is forgiveness for us. No. Compromise will always boomerang at us, even if that happens later.
Think of making compromises in the ministry God has entrusted to us. Instead of trusting in God and remaining faithful to Him, what would happen if we use the ministry as a means of becoming wealthy? Then, instead of preaching the pure word of God which people need to hear, our doctrines will slowly drift to preaching strange doctrines that will draw people to us who will in turn make us rich. When someone preaches the prosperity doctrine, everyone can see after some time that it is the preacher who has become prosperous! Preaching the old testament law on tithing is another way to make sure that people keep giving. Broadening the narrow path of following Jesus as His disciples can make it easier for many people to come into the church which adds to the treasury without leading the people to become closer to Jesus.
For someone else, fame or popularity becomes more important than faithfulness to God. Instead of feeding the flock with what they need at different times, such preachers choose interesting subjects to talk about which will keep the audience glued to the preacher without causing any offence. Are not subjects such as the mark of the beast and the meanings of different symbols in the prophecies more interesting than telling the people to take up their cross daily, deny themselves and follow Jesus?
Preachers can also get diverted to some pleasure they seek and begin to be less occupied with the condition of the flock under their care. Some of them may begin to look at the church as the means for their livelihood rather than a responsibility God has entrusted with them. Even though they carry out their external responsibilities such as conducting weddings and funerals and preach sermons dutifully, people can slowly detect that the preacher's heart is no longer with them.
What about what happens to our personal lives when we make compromises here and there? For example, if we marry an unbeliever even though many people warn us not to, aren't we going to face the suffering that will come after the initial fascination wears off? Suppose we choose to stay on in a lukewarm or nominal church because we don't want to disturb our social setup? What if we decide that if we obey Jesus and get baptised in water it would cause too much confrontation with our family? Is anyone painfully aware of the fact that God had a call for them in His ministry but they chose to stay with comfort and provisions that they were used to. Have we entered into a business that is being run in an unrighteous manner, and our conscience is not bothering us much now? Have we allowed any pleasure into our life that has begun to rule us?
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit" (Gal.6:7,8). When we have made compromises we will find out to our dismay that even though we can get forgiveness from God, we cannot avoid facing the painful consequences of our choices. See what happened to King David. God forgave him when he repented, but for the rest of his life he had to stand and watch what was happening to his family and kingdom. Without understanding this difference between forgiveness and the consequences of our compromises, we may go ahead and regret later.
What can we do if we now realise that our decisions were wrong and want to repent? "'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And tear your heart and not merely your garments.' Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in mercy And relenting of catastrophe. Who knows, He might turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him, Resulting in a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God'" (Joel.2:12-14). However far we may have gone away from God, His desire is that we should return to Him. Even if it was years ago that we made the compromise and now we are suffering from the consequences, it is only right that we repent before God. The least we can do is to admit that what we did was wrong.
"Then I will compensate you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust- My great army which I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied, And you will praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. So you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame" (Joel.2:25-27). The KJV used the word 'restore' but the modern translations use 'compensate' or 'make up'. We cannot go back to the time before we compromised or get all the suffering taken away. But we can receive greater strength and anointing for the future. We can make up for the past by learning to humble ourselves now and seeking to be entirely faithful to the Lord. God tells us that if we truly repent, we can eat the 'best of the land' now (Isa.1:19,20).
Think of the story of the prodigal son who had everything going for him, but who chose to take his share of his father's wealth and enjoy himself. He ended up wasting it all, and becoming a pauper. But then he 'came to his senses'. He recognised and accepted the fact that he did not deserve to have the status of the son of his father. He went back to his father and acknowledged his mistake. What was the father's response? A welcoming hug, a new robe, a ring and a feast for the returning son. That is how God will welcome us if we will honestly admit our folly and take the humble position of placing ourselves at His mercy.
So, if we have compromised our life or ministry before God, let us repent and return to our Father. Let's not fool ourselves thinking no one knows. No. We have to deal with the One from whom nothing is hidden.