Day by Day - Dec. 7, 2010

When I think of fallen people, my mind returns to an ancient example, King Saul, the tall, dark, handsome monarch of the Hebrews. What an impressive specimen of humanity! He was the one of whom the Lord had said to Samuel, "Behold the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people" (1 Sam. 9:17).

With humility and genuine reluctance Saul accepted the appointment, acknowledged God's anointing, and graciously stood before the cheering masses as Samuel announced:

"Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people." So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" (1 Sam. 10:24).

To save you pages of reading and a long, depressing list of facts, let me hurry to the dismal end of Saul's story where the man takes his own life. Observing the scene, David wrote a song of grievous lyrics as he lamented

"How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! . . . How have the mighty fallen!" (2 Sam. 1:25-27)

Like the sickening sound of an enormous tree plunging to the ground, Saul fell, and anyone caring enough to look inside his life can analyze why He became diseased to the core. An erosion of character went on, unchecked, a destruction of substance, which took a dreadful toll on the man who once stood tall.

Someday, when you die, someone will speak for you and sing of you. Think about what you'd like them to say and sing on that day in the future. Then live like it today. 

Reprinted by permission. Day by Day, Charles Swindoll, July 2005, Thomas Nelson, inc., Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Purchase "Day by Day" here.