Real Greatness!

Dad?! 

Yes, Son?! 

Can You Tell Me What Is 

The True Measure Of Real Greatness?

Interesting Phrasing ... Why Do You Ask?!

I Am Asking ...
Dad, I Am Asking You, Well, Because
The Guys Keep Talking About
All The Athletes
Sportsmen
Entertainers And Actors
And Money As Oh, So, Great
But ...
Something Is Nagging At The Edge
Of My Consciousness!

It's As If There Is Something Really Important 

That I Need To Understand
So As Not To Accept What's On The Street As Fact!

Okay. Sit Down With Me
And We Shall Seek To Get You Your Answer!

First Things First!

Father In Heaven, 

We Come As Children

Willing To Learn

And Seeking Your Guidance!

Please Guide Into Your Truth

In Jesus' Name. 

AMEN.

Son,

It Is Written That

By Wisdom
You Build Your House
By Understanding It Is Established ...

... And By Knowledge
Its Chambers Are Filled
With Pleasant And Precious Riches!

All Right! We're On The Same Page!
Now Tell Me What You Understand
To Be The Visible Character Of Many Of Those
Lauded In The Public Domain As Great?!

Dad, I Can Count 

- Without Even Thinking -
The Many So-Called Greats
Who Lack True Character!

Many Of Them Are Drug Abusers
Womanizers
Indulge In Abominable Lifestyles
Lack Self-Control
Rabble-Rousers, And More
And I Don't Understand 

Why They're Called Great! 

Several Of The Old Greats

- Still Considered Great -

 Even Committed Suicide

And Many Of The Young Crop

Are Following In Their Footsteps! 

What's So Great About That?!

Son, Do You Remember The Story Of Samson

The Judge In Israel
At The Time Of The Philistine Dominion!

Of Course! 

He Was The Strongest Man Who Ever Lived! 

He Was The Greatest!

And ... He Was The Weakest!

How Can You Say That?! 

He Tore A Lion In Half ... With His Bare Hands

Killed 1,000 Men With The Jawbone Of An Ass
Lifted The City Gates Off Its Hinges ...
He Was Truly, Truly, Fantastic!

He Was Fantastically Foolish
He Had No Self Control
He Lived By His Emotions

AND
Of Him His Libido Had Control!

He Who Is Mastered By Earthly  Desire
Is Weak!
True Strength Comes From The Emotions
You Control
Not The Emotions That Control You
Using Up Your Life Force
With Vanity And Things That Do Not Elevate You!

Yes, Sir.

Let's Reason This Out Together ...

Samson Was A Nazarite From Birth
He Was Dedicated To God

He Was To Avoid Wine And Alcohol
He Should Not Have Been Fraternizing With The Idolatrous Philistine Women

He Should Not Have Married One!
He Should Not Have Been Involved With Delilah, A Known Prostitute!

Yeah, Especially One Whose Name Means Consumer!

No, Son.
He Should Not Have Allowed Himself
To Participate In The Charms Of Any Prostitute - He Was Set Apart
AND
Designated As Holy Unto God!

Samson Utterly Betrayed His God
By Foolishly Betraying His Secret
For A Tawdry Exploration
AND
He Put Himself Outside The Ark Of Safety
The Hedge Of Protection
AND
For His Weakness
His Willfulness
His Malicious Disobedience
He Caused The Spirit Of The Living God
To Finally Depart From Him!

I Guess He Was Not So Great After All!

Samson Would Have Been Truly Great
IF
He Had Been Faithful
AND IF
He'd Had Self-Control
AND
Firmness Of Resolve
AND
Practiced Self-Denial
Not Giving In To The Lust Of His Eyes
The Lust Of His Flesh
AND
The Pride Of Life
Trusting In His Long Hair And His Muscles
Neither Of Which Gave Him
One Single Iota Of Power!

His Power Came From His Fidelity
His Devotion
To His Living And Holy God!

Neither Fame
Nor Fortune
Nor Associations
Make One Great!
They Can, However
Make One Notorious
Careless
Indifferent
Unfaithful
Faithless
Wicked
Wasteful
AND
Turn One Into A Wastrel!

Son, Satan Uses

Our Cherished Character Defects
AND
Flaws
To Undermine
AND
Ultimately
Destroy Us!

I Guess Buying Into Your Own Press
Is Not A Good Idea!

It Isn't!

Hmm ...

So, Dad
Would You Say That
Faithfulness
Self ... Control
Obedience To God
Self ... Denial
Integrity
AND
Firm Resolve
Are Some Of The Attributes
That Make A Man Great?!

Yes, I Do ... But

Think On This:

Samson Was Physically
AND
Spiritually Ruined
BUT
In The Midst Of His Misery
He Truly Learned About Himself
AND
Because Of Complete Repentance
AND
Turning Away From Sin
AND
Turning Toward The Savior
The Lord Heard Him In His Plea

AND
Gave Him Forgiveness
AND
Restoration To Power
To Complete His Mission
Even Though It Cost Him His Earthly Life!

This Is Lesson For Us All:

Our Sin May Be Forgiven
BUT
There Are Always Consequences
To Our Wrong-Way Walking!

Thanks, Dad!
I Knew I Could Count On You!
I Love You!

I Love You, Son!
You May Count On Me
BUT
You Must Depend On
AND
Trust Completely
In And On The Eternal God!

I Hear That And ... I Totally Agree!