Christian Living

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We are examples
by J. C. Corcoran
8/7/2014

First Corinthians 10:6-11

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…”

Israel had received mighty miracles and signs from God and, in spite of it all, they were continuously disobedient. There are several areas in where they were disobedient and were punished and Paul points them out in the verses above to show us an example of what not to do. Let’s look at them and see what we can learn.

#1 – “Do not be idolaters as some of them were – verse 7 (verse 14 says to “flee from idolatry”)
What is idolatry? In his book, “Counterfeit Gods”, Timothy Keller says this “If anything becomes more fundamental to your happiness, meaning in life, and identity, then it is an idol.”

Some of the more familiar instruments of idolatry in today’s world would probably be sex, money and power. All you have to do is watch TV or go online and you can see that these are the three main subjects of idolatry. Immoral sex is everywhere, even in the church. And if you deny that last statement, you have your head in the sand.
Money and power go hand in hand; the more money you have the more power you have. Just look at the corporate world and Washington. Money and power can go to a man’s head and that is idolatry. Even the common man can fall into its trap. If you spend all of your waking hours working and trying to make more money instead of spending time with your family; you are an idolater. Flee from it now while you have a chance.

#2 – Verse 8 says “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did…”
Adultery, homosexuality, pornography; we’re doing it just as they did and its idolatry. If you’re cheating on your spouse, you need to stop and ask God’s forgiveness. If you’re staring at all that stuff on the internet, you need to stop; and if you’re married, it’s the same as adultery: Matthew 5:28 Jesus says… “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery.” And Paul tells us in this passage in First Corinthians that it is idolatry.

#3 – I believe everyone, including me, is guilty of this on a daily basis. In verse 10 Paul says… “And do not grumble, as some of them did…”
Exodus 17:1-3 gives us an example of what he means by this. The people are thirsty and instead of asking God for water, they begin to grumble. “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us die of thirst?”

All of these things have been written as examples of how we, God’s children, should live our lives. It wasn’t too long ago that I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. That night, when I was alone, I asked God point blank… “Why have you allowed this to happen to me?” I was grumbling instead of thanking him. Yes, I should have been thanking Him. First Thessalonians 5:18… “give thanks in all circumstances.”

Why would I want to thank God for cancer? Because of Romans 8:28… “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
In a recent article on FaithWriters.com, Stefanie White wrote… “Some of the most beautiful displays of God’s splendor happen when people are in tough times.” What a beautiful line, huh? And so true.

Now, follow me in this. It was just a few days before I received this prognosis of cancer that I had been praying and I asked God just as the man in Mark 9:24 had asked Jesus. He said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” And the reason I had been praying in this way was because of some things I had just read about people being healed. I was having trouble believing it. So I prayed and asked God to help me in my unbelief.
So now, here I am grumbling, “why have you allowed this to happen to me?” And I was immediately reminded of the story of Lazarus (John 11) and the blind man in John 9. In both instances Jesus said that these things had happened so that God would be glorified. And I believe that this is partially an answer to my prayer. I believe God is helping me to overcome my unbelief.

Do not grumble. In all things give thanks. God will bring something good out of it. Can you do that? Can you give thanks for cancer or any other sickness or disease? It’s what God wants; so that he can be glorified. And he wants us to be good examples to others. Yes, we too are to be an example to those who are watching us.

A few years ago, I was attending a service at a church in New Orleans. I was there with another fellow handing out Gospel Tracts during Mardis Gras. I don’t recall the preachers name but I remember very well what he said and it fits right in here with what we are discussing. He pointed toward the back of the room and as we all turned around we could see through the windows in the door. There were throngs of people walking back and forth outside past the building and the preacher said, “Why do you suppose those people aren’t in here with us?”

His answer was profound. He said, “some of them don’t come in because we haven’t told them or showed them what Christianity is all about.” Then he got closer to the mike and said, “and some of them don’t come in because they have seen us and our bad behavior and they say if that’s what Christianity is all about then I don’t want anything to do with it.” EXAMPLES!

Are you a good example of what Christianity is all about? I would suggest you take time to examine yourself before you answer. I certainly have been examining myself lately and I’m falling a little short.

The bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are “Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making his appeal through us.” An ambassador is “an authorized messenger” according to the dictionary. Are you a good example of an ambassador? Can people look at you and the way you live and want to know your God?

Let’s all pray, daily, and ask God to help us in being good ambassadors through Christ Jesus. And remember: We either invite them in or chase them away through our example.

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