What Party?

The late Carrie Fisher once said, “Two of the saddest words in the English language are ‘What Party?’ And Los Angeles is the ‘What Party?’ capital of the world.”

Being left out is probably one of the worst feelings ever. Finding out that all your friends were invited to the party while you weren't - really stinks.

King Saul was invited to the party. He had the best seat in the house. But when it came down to it, Saul disqualified, disconnected, unlinked, and un-liked Himself with God and thus the party.

When we come to the book of Samuel (which was originally one scroll, but broken up into two parts due to its length) we find a story about Saul.

Saul was the nation of Israel’s personal pick (not God’s) to serve them as king. Even when Samuel rebuked them for this affront to God, and warned them for the atrocities a worldly king would lead to (enslaving their children, taking the best of their lands, crops, cattle, etc.), they defiantly responded: “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

Despite the fact that God had given, lead, and promised Himself as their Eternal King, Israel rejected God. Instead, they chose the tall, dark and handsome (and cowardly) Saul. When it came time for Saul’s inauguration he was nowhere to be found. The LORD let the nation know where their elected king was in saying, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

From Genesis 3:15 on, God let humanity know that a singular male offspring of Eve would crush the serpent’s head and gain victory for us.

In Genesis 12:3 we find out that through Abram’s model of faith, i.e. not logic or rational thought, but rather hearts attuned to God’s voice, all the families, tribes, and nations on earth would be blessed.

In Genesis 49:10 we find out that these two blessings would be interwoven into one person - the divine Shiloh Messiah from the tribe of Judah - to whom all authority and tribute belongs.

When Israel rebelled against God’s plan for the nation everyone should have known God’s plan, their national history, and the penalty for rebellion (Eden? Flood? Pharaoh? Wilderness?). They should've known that God’s Messiah was destined to arise from Judah.

Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Oops.

Saul didn’t start off too badly. But it’s never about how you start. It’s always about how you finish. How you finish has more to do with simple obedience than some internal resolve or personal fortitude. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Saul’s kingship was doomed before it started.

When we come to 1 Sam 13 we read:

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.... "You have done a foolish thing," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you... But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart…” (excerpt from vv. 8-14)

Oswald Chambers once said, "...but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you... This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God."

The singular mark of maturity, i.e. transitioning from childhood to adulthood, is vanishing selfishness. The child thinks of self, and self alone. The very same is true for Christians. It's not courage or martyrdom by which maturity is measured, but rather by altruistic (selfless) love for others, i.e. God first - then neighbor.

The Muslim, the Mormon, the secular philanthropist, and the coexist groupies - all misguided. There can be no love for a false god, which is no god at all. Directing people to Allah, Jehovah, charity, human “goodness” or mere coexistence does nothing to glorify Christ. Instead, it elevates fallen humanity to a point of denying and denouncing Him altogether.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24

We can fool others. Stick to it long enough and we can even fool ourselves. But we cannot fool God - ever.

When Paul said, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" he was talking about the "test" of humbly surrendered and obedient love vs. anything and everything else. All of which fall into the category of selfishness.

Before we jump to a premature conclusion regarding the condition of our hearts and our comparative maturity based on those around us (a flawed worldly pattern Rom 12:2)... let us instead measure our faithfulness by the Word, the eternal Logos, The Christ, The Beginning and End, i.e. Jesus.

Are we waiting on the Lord -or- like Saul are we doing selfish stuff based on logic and circumstance?

Are we being transformed from natural decisions & natural living to that of spiritual obedience to the voice of God in Scripture?

Are we truly turning from our selfish ways, taking up our crosses, and following Jesus?

It doesn't really matter what others say.

It doesn't even matter how we feel about it.

The only thing that truly matters is how Jesus sees it.

On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

-Matthew 7:23

Jesus told His disciples that He was going back to His Father’s house to prepare a room for us (John 14:2). We all know about the epic and eternal party. But are we instead, like Saul and the nation of Isreal, delusional about what’s required?

It’s never been about titles, genealogy or works - nor will it ever be. But authentic faith (i.e. of the born-again by the Spirit and not human invention variety) is, by default, humble, surrendered and continually (and often painfully) being sanctified.

We can elect to spend our lives, and be spent, throwing parties for ourselves. Or we can choose faithfulness, surrender, and obedience in being poured out for His eternal party.

Have you bothered lately to bow at His feet and ask Jesus how you're doing or are you too busy with yours?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com