I Almost Slipped
What is it that trips you up in your faith journey with Jesus? In the old testament book of Psalms there was a guy named Asaph. Asaph was the worship leader for David and Solomon. He loved to worship and wrote some of the great psalms. One Psalm in particular reaches deep into my soul and resonates with me in a special way. In Psalm 73 Asaph gets vulnerable. He talks about a time when he almost slipped. He’s actually making reference to his faith journey. Were not sure of the particular circumstances but he began to take notice of people who were ungodly and yet seemingly happy and successful. He said, ”for I envied the proud when I saw them prosper.”
Have you ever felt that way? Maybe it’s your next door neighbor or a co-worker. Ungodly doesn’t mean they are monsters, in fact sometimes they are nice people but they simply don’t feel the need to include God in their life. From all outward appearances they might seem happier than you.
Listen to what Asaph says about these kinds of people. "They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else." He goes on to say, “did I keep my heart pure for nothing?”
Sometimes I feel that way when I’m browsing through social media. A few years ago I went to a surf festival with a few friends. Some of the greatest legends of surfing were on stage. We got to hear about their world travels, their fun stories, and a little about how their lives have intersected through the years at exotic tropical locations with perfect waves. Some of these guys are in their late 40’s to early 50’s and they look amazing!
I don’t know much about their faith but none of them that I am aware of are Christ followers. So there I was envying their lives and trying to imagine how incredible it must have been. That feeling stayed with me for a while until I spent some time with God. Then a verse came to me. "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" At that moment I realized I like my life better than theirs.
Asaph had his "aha" moment when he went into the house of God to worship. He says it this way, “Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction." Asaph goes on, but I’ll spare you the details. It’s not a pretty picture.
Who’s amazing life do you envy?
Maybe it’s time to worship God and get some perspective. If you find yourself being enticed by the lives of unbelievers, I hope you will lean into your relationship with Christ. Start reading the Bible, if you've put it down. Get back into the habit of going to church. Consider getting into a small group. If you do these things, it won’t be long before you see the real picture.
Stay blessed,
Steve