I love James Bond movies. The idea of a suave spy, jet-setting around the world with cool cars, slick gadgets and a real knack to save the day. I mean really, what’s not to like? Apparently, there are quite a few that join me in this affection. The James Bond franchise since it started in 1968 with Dr. No, has appealed to quite the audience. Twenty-seven films with a total gross of over 7.1 billion dollars. I would think that Mr. Ian Fleming would indeed be pleased. But as you’re watching the new 007 film set to come out soon, No Time to Die, you’ll have to watch out for one of the greatest villains in the series, the dreaded double agent. A spy that is not just lurking in the shadows seeking to garner valuable information for one organization, but two. An agent that serves not one master but two. The double agent represents two organizations, has allegiances to both and as a result is quite the dangerous individual to deal with. Whom will they be serving today? As you’re dealing with them, who are they gathering info for and how will they use it against you? Are they truly friend or foe? Mr. Bond has to be very careful what he divulges to the double agent, you never know what you’re going to get when you deal with someone that is living two lives. Someone that is living in two different worlds, yet not fully allegiant to either.
It might sound alarming, but did you know the world is full of double agents today? Yep, Christian double agents. They live with one foot in the church and one foot in the world. They are two completely different individuals. They operate two separate lives. The Christian you see at church is dressed as slick as grease, uses all the right church words, and fits in like they own the place. But yet on Monday morning as they head out into the world, they change teams. Their language changes, their demeanor changes, their attitude changes, and God is left at the altar. They serve themselves, spew anger on Facebook, fight with their neighbors and argue with anyone that doesn’t agree with them. The God of their world is compartmentalized and limited to Sunday mornings. And folks, just like the double agent that is hunting Bond, these double agent Christians are as dangerous as they come.
Today in 1 Samuel 29 we see a very different David. A David that not very many are probably aware of. If I were to ask the question “what is David famous for” on Family Feud, I’m certain the number one answer on the board would be “killed Goliath.” Probably second would be “was king of Israel” and sadly third would probably have something to do with Bathsheba. (man, the world is slow to forget our sin isn’t it?) But David did so much more than just what is primarily remembered of Him. He was an unbelievably talented musician. Maybe the best we see in the Bible. He played, he sang and hello, he was a great songwriter, writing the best hits of the Bible in the Psalms. He was a genius military leader, orchestrating countless successful battles, some with odds of 600 against 3000. But what if one of those Family Feud answers flipped over to reveal that David was a traitor? A double agent? Would you believe it? Sadly, it’s true. We find David at a point in his life in chapter 29 that I’m sure he regretted until the day he saw the Lord. David is living two lives. He is playing with on foot in two fields. And in great irony, neither team wants him.
Saul’s relentless, murderous pursuit of David has chased him out of Israel. In chapter 27 we saw him flee with his 600 soldiers to the city of Gath in the land of the Philistines. Yes, the Philistines, his lifelong enemies. David had a long violent history with the Philistines. Goliath was a Philistine and after He met David, he ended up without a head. Without any thought, David slayed 200 Philistines to secure the hand of Saul’s daughter in marriage. He led countless campaigns and killed countless Philistines in the line of duty. In fact, there was a hugely popular song mentioned three times in 1 Samuel, that said David had "slain tens of thousands" of Philistines. (18:7, 21:11, 29:5) The Philistines, a people that David despised, a people that David killed by the thousands, and he now lives among them. The Philistines that rejected Almighty God, worshiped many false gods, bowed to idols, and practiced gross immorality and sexual sin. When we run from God, it takes us to dark places indeed.
But in chapter 29, David takes it to a new level. He is willing to now fight for the Philistines…against Israel. The same young man that uttered these words before slaying Goliath, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam 17:26) was now fighting alongside Goliath’s relatives. David was now willing to fight against the “armies of the living God.” What an unbelievably dark period in David’s walk with the Lord.
So, you might be asking, “where was God in all of this?” Did He just leave David? Nope, He was where God always is...very near. Watch in the following text as you see God at work in the life of David the double agent as he is getting ready to battle against God’s people.
“But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back (David), that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 1 Sam 29:4-5
Did you see it? Right there in the passage. It’s right there, just as it is in your own life today, even right now. The invisible hand of God. God keeps David from doing something that would possibly be the biggest regret of his life. God’s invisible hand stretches out and keeps David from doing what he thought, in the moment, was the right thing to do.
Friends, how many times has the invisible hand of God saved you from yourself? The irony of this question is that many times we can be crying out to God to help us, but in our sin, He is helping us in ways we cannot see or understand. David was ready to fight. He was ready to fight against God’s armies so much that he was disappointed when the Philistines leaders made him turn back. Imagine that, David was actually frustrated that they would not let him fight against Israel…and it was all because God was caring for him. Praise be to God for when His invisible hand keeps us from sinning as bad as our heart truly desires.
Folks, you can’t have it both ways. You cannot truly be a double agent in the kingdom of God. What team are you on today? Take your pick, make your choice, and stand for that team, but you can’t live in two worlds. You can’t have a home in two worlds, it just won’t work. If you stand for God, you live for him 24/7, there is no other way. If you love the world, you must give it up to stand for Christ. And no, you can’t come up with your own formulas either. You can’t be 20% world and 80% God. Folks, God wants 100% of your heart, nothing less. God is beyond clear on this topic in His Word.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” 1 john 2:15
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4
Today, stand for God, fight for God, serve God and speak the truth of God. Pray and ask that He give you the strength, tenacity and courage to be on His team and only His team. Refuse to be a Christian double agent.
May God bless you as you stand firm as a soldier for the Kingdom of Christ.
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