FAILING GOD

by Ronnie Mutina

Have you ever felt that you have just totally failed God? Have you been led, by the Lord, to do something, and then when you did, you wondered why you even tried, because it seemed as if you totally failed to do what God wanted you too? In all actuality, we have all failed God, at one time or another, and it is because we are sinners. I realize that, but as a child of God, do you ever feel like you fail God?

I’m sure that I would hear a overwhelming ‘yes’ answer to both questions. However, what do you do when you feel this way? You have two possible answers in this area. One: you can just become a hermit and hide and not try again or Two: you continue to keep on keeping on, as the old slogan says. What would God’s Word say to us in this matter?

As I look into God’s Word, I am reminded of what Paul said in the book of Philippians 1:6. Paul, of course, in encouraging the church at Philippi as he sits in jail not knowing what is going to happen to him. Paul told the church, "Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Wow! Of course when you look on further in chapter 4, we find where it says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul felt, at times, like he had failed the LORD too. If you read is accounting of meeting Jesus fact to face, you find that he could not forgive himself for being consenting unto Stephen’s death, found in the book of Acts. I believe this could have possibly been the thorn in Paul’s side that hindered him at times, when Jesus told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Failing God comes natural to man. It’s our sinful condition that causes us to fail HIM. However, we need to understand that failing to complete something the way we want to, concerning God, is not necessarily failing HIM. We find in Ecclesiastes 3:1, where Solomon said, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Doing things to honor and glorify God is the purpose that we were created for. Granted I feel like I fail God all the time, but if I really want to bring honor and glory to HIM, I shouldn’t stop doing what HE wants me to do. There are many laws in the Word of God and we, as humans, cannot possibly stand up to all of them. That’s why God created grace. However, we are to do what Jesus commanded us to do. Go into the world, preach the gospel, baptize them, and then teach them whatsoever HE has commanded us to do. It is simple, we ‘keep on keeping on,’ even when we fall flat on our face. I once was told by a preacher, who is still a dear friend to me, "Bro. Ronnie, if I were in the situation that you are, being divorced, I would give up my ministry as a preacher/pastor." I told him, "Well, no offense, but if a man can give up the ministry that easy, and God doesn’t deal with that man, then I doubt God was calling him to the ministry in the first place." Paul said, in Romans 11:29, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." HE doesn’t change HIS mind about what HE has called us to do.

The whole picture needs to be seen in this. We all fail in decisions that we make on this earth. We all fail God in some way or fashion too. The key to all of this is simply this; you learn from your failures so you don’t make the same mistake again. You still live you life for the KING the best way you know how too. You ask HIM to help you hold HIS hand and that He gives you direction in your life so you can bring honor and glory to HIM. It’s not always easy to do, but HE is always willing to lead us in the paths that we go. HIS grace truly is sufficient.