Well!! Here we are looking into the second part of how believers in Christ should avoid conforming to, during their lifetime! The Scripture quotes some people who lived opposite to the cause as to why Jesus came on this earth. Let’s take a look at the rest:

Achan - delayed accepting his fault

Achan delayed accepting a grave failure on his part, which led to the Israelites being defeated very badly. Not only that, the Lord God was also angry against the Israelites because they had acted unfaithfully in regard to taking things under the ban. Joshua 7:1.

Achan had kept back for himself a Babylonian cloak, 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. Joshua 7:20,21. These were things the Israelites had gathered as “spoils” after the battle against Jericho. They weren’t supposed to be kept as treasure by any Israelite; but Achan disobeyed and hence the defeat of the Israelites. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs‬ ‭28:13‬.

King Saul - feared people and obeyed them

This was God’s command to Saul concerning the Amalekites - Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 1 Samuel‬ ‭15:3‬. After pulling down the Amalekites, Saul and the people spared Agag (the defeated king), best of their sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs and all that was good.

Saul did not fully destroy the Amalekites. This was the cause of Saul’s downfall and the kingdom being taken away from him. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel‬ ‭15:24‬. People pleasing attitude will not let us obey God, but rather go against Him.

Pharisee - A self-righteous person

A Pharisee and a Publican went to pray in the temple. He prayed a self righteous prayer, stating his good deeds before God. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Luke‬ ‭18:11-12‬.

But the Publican humbled himself before God and prayed, accepting his failures and shortcomings. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Luke‬ ‭18:13. Our works of righteousness are like filthy rags before God. May the Lord help us to have our boasting in Christ alone.

Judas - A covetous man

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Surprisingly, even after ministering and walking with Jesus everyday, he fell into the lust of money. Whenever a monetary offering was made for the ministry, it was Judas who kept an account of it. Sadly, he fell into the lure of money step by step, until he reached the point of betraying his Master for 30 pieces of silver. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy‬ ‭6:10‬.

May the Lord help us so that we don’t fall prey to any of these sinful natures and depart from our loving Saviour!

Be blessed! 💕