So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
Nearly 12 years ago, when life came crashing down in the consequences of my addiction, you can bet that I had immense regrets. I’d had plenty of opportunities to stop, get help, and change my ways. As I lost my job, was forced to go to treatment, and realized that I may lose my family, I wished desperately that I’d have stopped before things got so out of control. If only I’d had quit sooner . . . But it was too late and I couldn’t go back and change things. My fate was sealed and I had to face the terrible repercussions of my actions.
I’ve got to think that King Saul experienced that same kind of regret, wishing he’d done things differently. In today’s passage, which briefly retells of the downfall of Saul’s reign, we read that there is a direct line to be drawn from Saul’s disobedience to his death. God executed Saul for his sins. As his life came to a close, I’ve got to think that Saul looked back, desperately wishing he could have done things differently, but it was too late. God’s judgment had fallen and there was no escaping it.
How many of us are living in those moments now, when we have time to change? The hour isn’t too late and consequences haven’t yet fallen. For us, the time for radical action is here. It is now, before it is too late. If we’re stuck in some habitual sin, we will eventually suffer the repercussions of failing to change. If we’re not yet there, then we’re living in a time of grace, when we can still do what it takes to abandon our self-destructive behavior and change our ways. If we don’t want to live with terrible regret, then we must go to God now, asking what it is we must do. Then, we must do it. If we don’t, we will one day look back, wishing desperately that we had.