We’ve all seen them, probably had them, and probably even trusted in them at some point. Good luck charms. A four leaf clover, a rabbits foot, a horseshoe (points facing up of course), lucky number 7, a lucky penny (only if it’s heads up), ladybugs and well, the list goes on and on. And beyond these that are familiar to us, cultures all over the world embrace their own specific lucky charms. In Sweden, the Dala Horse is a small carved wooden horse that is said to bring luck, strength, and dignity to the holder. In India elephants, especially white ones, are lucky, but only if the trunk is facing up. In the Ukraine a decorated egg called a Pysanka is said to bring the bearer health, fertility, love, and wealth. No matter where you may go or what you may make of them, good luck charms permeate our world.
In fact, there is another good luck charm in our world today that pains me to mention. The cross. A few weeks back we had some work done around the house and the men that completed the work all wore crosses as pendants. You would naturally assume they were Christians, but judging by their behavior and language it was very hard to discern. The more you look around the more you’ll notice rappers, movie stars, sports stars, and others with a cross dangling from their neck. Some are adorned with so much gold and diamonds that they look like they borrowed them from Mr. T. But on it’s own, what does a cross do? Unless Jesus rules that heart, the cross around that neck is just that, another good luck charm worn by the owner in hopes that it will bring them good fortune and ward off the bad.
Today as we look at 1 Samuel chapter 4, we will see an instance of just this, God being used as a good luck charm. This was one of the lowest points in history for the Israelites. The judges were gone and the era of prophets and kings was not yet in full swing. Samuel, the first prophet and judge is right around the corner but has not greatly influenced God’s people yet. As a result, we see a people that, as we were told in the very last verse of Judges, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” And folks, when everybody is right, everything goes wrong.
We open the chapter with war. The Israelites are going out to war with the Philistines, a neighboring enemy. In this particular skirmish, we see no mention of God's influence upon the Israelites. No prayer, no guidance, no vision. We just see the Israelites fighting. And they lose. Four thousand men fall in the battle. The elders of Israel realize they are on the losing side of this fight and they need help. They need a little something extra. They need some luck. And they reach deep into their pocket and pull out their lucky charm. And sadly, their lucky charm is the Ark of the Covenant. The very representation of the throne of God in Israel and on this Earth.
The ark was built at the command God back in Exodus 25 and it was to be a place where God would reside amongst the Israelites. It resided in the Holy of Holies within the temple and was only seen once a year by the High Priest. When it was moved it was covered in goat hide and carried on long poles so no one could look upon it. Above the ark during the day was a pillar of smoke and at night a pillar of fire rose into the sky. As the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years with Moses, they followed the ark as God lead them. The ark was not God, God was the ark. And the difference between the two is the difference between worshiping God and worshipping an idol. And that day, a lucky idol was what was sent for.
You know many times leaders are simply misled. They might have the authority granted them to lead a certain group, but the title of leader is all they hold. Just because you’re a leader doesn’t mean you are qualified, have a vision for the future or even know where you’re going. These Israelite elders fit this bill. They were misled leaders. They were leading but without the vision of God. They were leading in their own power and wisdom and folks, that just won’t work for very long. Any leader that does not receive His directions from God, is doomed to eventual failure.
The ark is sent for and received and the two priests that bring it is an even worse wrinkle in our story. Hophni and Phineas. Yes, they are the two evil sons of the High Priest Eli, that were guilty of having sex with drunken prostitutes in the temple of God as well as stealing food offerings from the people (and thus God.) Wow, God must have been rolling His eyes at this debacle that they marched out onto the battlefield that day. So here comes the ark of God, inappropriately walked right into battle by two so called priests that didn’t even know God. The leaders thought they had the battle sewn up. I mean how could they lose now that they had the ark to work it’s magical powers for them. The battle goes horribly. The Israelites lose a massive 30,000 men. Hophni and Phineas die at the edge of the sword. The ark is stolen by the Philistines. And upon hearing the news, old Eli, falls over dead. Absolute and utter defeat.
Folks, what is God to you today? Is He merely a good luck charm? Is He an object that can sometimes give you good things? Is there superstition involved with the way you deal with Him to get Him to perform for you? Do you wear a cross around your neck in hopes that it will “do good” for you? You see, the deadly mistake that the leaders made with the ark that day was where they thought God resided. The people thought God was in the physical ark itself. But folks, God’s true throne is not in a box, it's in the hearts of men and women that call Jesus Savior. You see, God is alive. He is real. He is living and active and He lives within our hearts…if we allow Him. God is not an object, He is not a talisman, an omen, or a magic act. He is not in an ark; He is in our hearts. And if you allow your heart to be the throne on which He sits, your life will be one of goodness, peace, freedom and victory.
Today, be careful what you allow to sit upon the throne of your heart. Don’t make the error of allowing yourself to be on the throne. Don’t let money, cars, houses and the things of this world sit on that throne. Don’t let sex, pornography, lust, or adultery sit on that throne. Don’t let pride, selfishness or egotism claim the throne either. You see, our own selfish pride and the things of this world will constantly be jockeying to claim that throne, but you have to fight to keep it. If you belong to Jesus, your heart belongs to Him and He should be the only one that rules your heart.
I pray today that Jesus Christ is the treasure of your heart.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Sweet Jesus, Come and rule and reign in my heart all the days of my life. I say ‘yes’ to your lordship. Color me in shades of You. God bless you Dan Potter for your faithfulness.