What Might Have Been

David's son was the wisest of men,
but his brains didn't keep him from sin,
his wives turned his heart
from the God of his start
all that's left now is, "what might have been."

[see 1 Kings 11:4].

George Bowers (author and pastor, Woodstock, VA)
http://www.georgebowersministries.com/

As I mediate on my friend's verse it occurs to me that it is no wonder the Book of Proverbs is replete with warnings on the dangers and sin of sexual promiscuity - Solomon had his "what might have beens" and he desired that others avoid the abyss that he, and his witness to God, fell into.

People came from afar to hear the wisdom of Solomon and to see the grandeur of his kingdom - yet what could have been used for God's glory was wasted in large part - because Solomon did not obey the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," - he built temples to the idols that his wives worshiped - his sexual promiscuity led to spiritual promiscuity - and rather than model a monogamous relationship with the true and living God for the nations to witness and hopefully emulate - he profaned Jerusalem and the land with idols.

Solomon's brains and the opulence of his kingdom, even the Temple that he built to Yahweh, did not give him a "pass" to sin and desecrate the witness that God had given him. An outward temple means nothing if it is not a reflection of an inner temple. Nothing justifies sin.

If nothing justifies sin and sexual and spiritual promiscuity...perhaps we should be less enthralled with our "good works" and ingenuity and prowess as a people and repent of our wicked promiscuous ways (in all of their forms) - but of course the church, the people of God, must lead the way...it must begin with me...not with you, but with me. Then with us the church. If the nation does not follow...at least we have done what we can do by the grace of God.

Better to do what we can do...even if only God and the angels see...than to live a life of "what might have beens".