Now I can only imagine, because I have no children, that any parent would too wish that they could die in place of their child. They're young and have much more in life to experience. While you may not have lived the fullest life it was/is longer than that of your child's. If not for any other reason than that you simply love your kid(s). You would rather step in for them than allow them to face death. Understandable. But what if you're child had gone out of their way to 1) Steal EVERYTHING you had worked so hard for, 2) manipulate others to love them and hate you, 3) run you out of your own home and 4) attempt to have you killed? Would you still have wished that it was you instead of them?
The reason I ask is simple and very much a truth for humanity in general despite our efforts to debate otherwise; our love is circumstantial. Honestly I, personally, would have wanted a DNA test for this satanic child and would not have wished it was me instead of them as David did in regards to his son knowing the man wanted to take my life. When King David's men went to meet Absalom and his men in battle, the king gave very specific orders regarding his son, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom" -2 Samuel 18:5. However Absalom is also addressed as being the kings enemy. How is it that despite the circumstances this man could not only love his own son but sincerely wish he would have died in his place?
...a truth for humanity in general despite our efforts to debate otherwise; our love is circumstantial.
One thing resounded with me as I read David's words and actions in 2 Samuel 18:33 was God's love for me. We, humanity, are much like Absalom who wanted the kings throne. We want to be our own gods and long for the place where we can dictate what we can and cannot do. We want to be king and we'll do whatever it takes to have our own way. This spawns from our original father, Satan, who longed to have the place of God but inevitably failed. Disclaimer, despite popular belief the bible clearly teaches that we are not ALL children of God; we are either sons of God or of satan. The distinction comes through a proclamation ("because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." -Romans 10:9) and the evidence of that affirmation seen in ones life ("By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." -1 John 3:10). All this to say that at this point our desires and actions had made us enemies of the king, of God.
In an attempt to justify abandonment we would fail because although reason for justification may be present the expected action was not taken nor was it modeled for us as Christians.
Now to tell you that a father was crying and in pain because his son died would surprise very little. It's an obvious reaction, until we realize the circumstances by which he still felt this grief. I would have told David personally to let him go, if his son was willing to kill and betray his father there would be no limits this man would be willing to cross to get what he wanted. We, the world, is better off without him...and you...and me. It's obvious, the world can do with less selfishness. Now lets say you read this headline "Son kicks father out of his own home; attempted murder" scroll across the bottom of your t.v. screen you would definitely put into question the father's ability to raise the son. "He didn't discipline enough, he didn't love enough, he wasn't at home enough"...the list goes on and on. However, what if the father was an incredible father yet the son, out of pure rebellion, decided to act as he did? Would a father's lack of remorse and an action to disown his son had been looked down upon as quickly? In an attempt to justify abandonment we would fail because although reason for justification may be present the expected action was not taken nor was it modeled for us as Christians.
I found that David's cries were very much reflective of Gods cries for both you and I and for the rest of humanity. See God loves you, you may have heard it before, but what does that mean to you? See if you don't understand the extent of which you DO NOT deserve His love or even His attention His love seems like it should be a given and it was given. On the cross Jesus, who is the son of God and God, said something that reflected the cry of David. He uttered "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). See with every reason to abandon us and allow us to suffer the consequences for our actions, God acted on the same desire that David also had for his son, that "(He) would had died instead of you." The punishment; we deserved it, we earned it, but due to the King's UNCONDITIONAL love we didn't receive it.
The punishment; we deserved it, we earned it, but due to the King's UNCONDITIONAL love we didn't receive it.
Now it may not make complete sense to you but to be honest, that's okay. I have given my life to Christ and still find myself learning just how much God really loves me. As I am becoming more and more aware of just how much God loves me I have no excuse to not tell other people about this incredible love rather I am compelled to respond properly to it by living my life how Christ modeled me to do so. My heart is this, that as you read this blog today that you would be compelled to respond to that unconditional love. That God would tug at your heart and bring you home to become the child of God that you were intended to be from the beginning. Don't worry about your past decisions because as we discussed earlier, this love is not established by our circumstance rather by Gods motion to love despite your condition. I pray that you would surrender your life to Christ and begin building your relationship with Him while impacting the world around you. If you have already surrendered your life to Christ I pray that you would continually grow in that relationship and, as a result, become an ambassador of this message (2 Corinthians 5:20) to those around you.
It's a new year, a new moment, take this news and change the world! Thank you for reading and sharing.
Allan Guido
Casa de Adoracion Youth Pastor