Ken was a good friend. He was the choir director at my home church in Michigan. We sang in a quartet together. When I still lived at home, my parents invited him in for meals with our family. We knew him well. At least we thought we did.
On a Sunday evening in March of 1980, Ken directed our choir as we delivered a special concert for the celebration of Holy Week. The next Friday, Cindy and I loaded up our stuff and moved to Fort Wayne to begin our training for ministry. The week after that, we got the news, Ken was having an affair with one of the ladies in the choir and they were both leaving their spouses so they could be together. My heart was broken. I knew Satan had gotten a foothold in Ken’s life.
Fast forward about two years. I am back in Michigan for a visit and run into Ken in a store. I greeted him and after small talk, he said this to me, “Mike, the decision I made to leave my wife and marry Sue (not her real name), was the best choice I have ever made. I am so happy! I know this had to be God’s will.”
I looked at Ken and said, “No, Ken. Disobedience is never a part of the will of God.”
I have not seen him since that encounter. I don’t know if he is still happy or what turn his life has taken. My point was not to condemn Ken for his divorce. Although we know this is not in God’s perfect plan, there are circumstances people face that make this a choice they make. I also know divorce is not the unpardonable sin. But my point with Ken was this, whatever we pursue outside of God’s will can be destructive.
The Apostle Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
This speaks of options. When I pursue Christ and his plan for my life, I not only have the hope of a better today, but I build an unshakable foundation for eternity. Doing life my way; disregarding the plan of God, leaves me on very shaky ground. Peter clarifies the importance of this truth in 1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” This is not about achieving the perfection or Christ, but a call to make every moment of every day centered on finding God’s best and going after it with everything I have.
“But what if God direction doesn’t coincide with what I want out of life? Don’t I deserve to be happy?” This is the exact point! Satan has a way of pulling us into his definition of happiness and even allows us some pleasure in the moment. But that journey ends in ashes. On the other hand, God has made this promise to us. Psalm 37:3-4, Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Our pursuit of God may allow him to redirect the desires of our heart to be something we could have never even imagined. Give it a try.