Dear Ones:
Michael Angelos’ portrayal of the creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome is a remarkable piece of work. What is so expressive by the portrayal of this event, when man received life, is the touch of man with the finger of God. It is in that “point of contact” that man begins to live, and truly exist by the Life of God. In this fallen world, we see something of this principle worked out in the lives of those who have gone before us. One of the most expressive and demonstrative of these instances is found is in the life and ministry of Samson. As long as the “point of contact” was maintained and used, the life of God revealed itself by an overcoming strength given to Samson. It is when the “point of contact” was minimized, or esteemed of lesser importance, that in the negligence thereof, there is the catastrophic result of “no life,” “no Divine strength.”
What was the key to Samson’s life and strength? What was that particular “point of contact?”
In Judges 13, we discover that an angel came to the future mother of Samson to declare that she would bear a son, and that he would be “…a Nazarite unto God from the womb.” (13:5) Later on in his life, after judging Israel for twenty years, he finds himself in the company of a very treacherous woman, who tricks him to divulge the secret of his strength. His declaration: “…I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me…and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” (16:17) Samson has been worn down by the allurements, the enticements of Delilah, a Philistine, an enemy of God, and one whose loyalty has been bought by the design of the Philistine lords. Samson has trusted the wrong person, and in doing so, has compromised his “point of contact” As long as he remains faithful to his calling, and not compromised his commitment to God, and this symbolized by his uncut hair, the strength of God is given, revealed in him.
What is the Christian’s Nazarite vow? It is the embracing of his cross, to follow Christ. When we begin our journey as a disciple of Christ, our knowledge of His ways is limited. But as we delve deeper into the Gospel, we begin to learn that, because of our union with Christ, when He died, we died. We died to sin, self, the world, and the devil. It is a finished work. It is a work that is TRUE of us in Christ. What is therefore the “point of contact” for the Christian? It is that embracing of the cross, this work of Christ, whereby we have died to ourselves and our resources, to live for Him by His resources. The Apostle Paul puts it so simply in Colossians 3:1-3 “If ye be risen with Christ (…and the Christian IS…), seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God…Set your affection (the mind) on things above…FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.” (Col. 3:1-3) The point is this: God’s point of contact, that the Spirit of God will honor, and always respond to, is the point where by our choice and attitude, we believe and embrace the fact that, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ that liveth in me: and the life that I now in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) Note the “point of contact,”….crucified with Christ. And note the power, the “strength” of Christ given, “…Christ that liveth in me.”
May we live “in contact” with Christ in this day. And though we will certainly not live this life perfectly, let us aim at deriving our lives from Him by faith. May we trust Him to keep us “in contact” with Him. Then we shall KNOW Him.
Love, Dad