"Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done." 1 Kings 11:6

Many times in scripture you see people described as following the Lord fully. In Numbers 32:11-12 we read:

"None of the men who came up from Egypt, from 27 years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob; for they did not follow Me fully, except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have followed the Lord fully."

If you will take the time to read about Solomon’s life you will find he had an amazing start when he was first anointed as king. He leaves us a great example to follow, but he did not remain faithful. He developed a divided heart. Unfortunately how we go out is even more important than how we start. True success isn’t how we start ; it is defined at the end of the race.

If you know anything about his father, King David, he was defined as a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) Evidently to follow the Lord fully means "wholeheartedly" without perfection, but with true repentance and forgiveness learning from our failures in order not to repeat them. We know from David’s life he was far from perfect, but He truly loved God and was dependent upon Him. Another key factor is David knew how to repent. He writes in Psalm 51:16-17:

"For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise."

If we want success in life physically, emotionally, and certainly spiritually we must follow the Lord our God fully, wholeheartedly til the end steadfast and consistent with complete dependency on Him. We must strive for the long term goal in life and not instant gratification along the way. It isn’t God’s way. Let us ponder the lives of these men and learn from the end results in their lives. Everyone’s lives are made up of daily choices as theirs was. Again, it is what determines our eternal lives beyond life on this earth. I hope you find that truth as emphatic as I do.
In His love.

"

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

276-237-6680

Backpacking always stretches me physically, emotionally, mentally, and always spiritually. I find I always come back a better person as it forces me way outside my comfort zone and rewards me beyond description in my inner being.

Photos taken on the Appalachian Trail, Roan Mountain, North Carolina-Tennessee, Carver’s Gap to 19E.