CHAPTER 3: FREE FALL 2022
In the Bible, 1 Chronicles 13 there is a story, King David wanted to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. As you may or may know, the Ark is a sacred box holding the tablets of the ten commandments. It is covered in gold and God had given specific rules as to how it was to be carried and by whom. It was a good idea to move the Ark, however in the story it was moved incorrectly — not by God’s rules that were outlined in Exodus 25. King David’s idea was a great idea, unifying the people in bringing the Ark of God to David’s city in Jerusalem, doing it incorrectly however blew the whole deal. And while everyone was rejoicing the Ark nearly fell off the “brand new” wagon it was being transported on and to save it from falling, a man named Uzza reached out and secured the Ark. He was killed instantly by God, as it had been written in scripture would happen to anyone unauthorized touching the Ark. You see, Uzza’s intention to help was right enough; but there was a profound absence of thought. Number one, the ark was only to be moved by priests bearers, carrying the ark with solid wooden beams designed specifically for the task. And by doing it incorrectly the Ark fell, and Uzza held the ark in place, putting his hands where even Levitical bearers (priests) were forbidden to lay hands.
Wow. Truth or story? It is truth, it is history, and history reflects, the music stopped, the excitement ended and David realized that his good effort, done incorrectly, had severe consequences. Much service for the LORD is like this, a good idea, incorrect implementation – a new cart, a big production, with strength leading in King David and Uzza, (his name meaning friendly) dancing out in front – yet all done without His will or remembering the rules. Surely David prayed for God’s blessing on this big production, but he didn’t inquire of God regarding the production itself. God didn’t care about the production — he cared about the rules. This was a good thing done the wrong way. You see, God is just as concerned with the process as He is with the result. It was the end of the party for David that day. The ark was then placed correctly in the care of the priests, as was customary and directed by God — and was correct. Catastrophic failure due to a desire to do good in the eyes of the Lord, done incorrectly. As business owners we should do well to remember this story. I would say, King David found himself in a Free Fall as did all of Israel because of an in incorrect process. I have heard it said that the end justifies the means, I don’t think the Lord sees it that way. I also believe the Lord means to hold His people accountable. You see at one point in history, the Philistines captured the Ark, and you can bet they didn’t handle it correctly, but no Philistine died touching it. Why? Because God’s people knew better, you are God’s people and you are held to a higher standard as were the Israelites. The Lord has made all of us descendants of Abraham, thusly we have inherited God’s favor and His kingdom through Jesus Christ. Long story short on the Philistines — they did have a lot of bad luck until they gave the Ark back to Israel. For you and I the lesson is clear, we are expected to know the Word and abide in it, for the good of all — we ask God to give us correct discernment of our actions, being clear to line up with His word.
Chapter 3, Free Fall – The scariest experience any of us can have in this lifetime. A frantic realization that you have lost complete control in your life and there isn’t anything you can do about it. Anything. You are completely powerless and all that is you is tumbling out of control. Out of options, nothing can be done, business, life all of it out of “your” control.
You may not even realize it at the time, you might even be happy, like David, right before the hideous realization. Like jumping off of a 79 story building. All is cool as I pass floor 54, the view is spectacular, we all know the end of the story.
What causes free fall?
Multiple abuses of fiduciary duty. Accepting point negative I call it. Throwing wisdom to the curb, seeing yourself as the director of all matters, not to be questioned, especially when it’s wrong. Common sense is not so common and stupid is very, very expensive. What’s a point negative? Accepting the wrong thing, the incorrect thing, cosigning bad behavior, either yours or others until you simply do it one more time, the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back and all hell breaks loose. How many point negatives does it take to create a free fall or Origin of Failure? Nobody knows. Might be this one, might be the next. Will you get caught this time or not? The final point negative that sets a course, an exact moment in time.., and you fall.
Without God, everything is over. You were too busy to pick up payments for work completed, gave credit to customers when you’re not a bank. Became the man, myth, legend in investments, putting your relationships at risk in one company, and incorrect helping another, as if you could, as if you did not realize there is a God and you’re not HIm. Then the dominos start to fall, lying, cheating, blaming others, not minding the store, not servicing your responsibilities, do I need to go on? Sure I do, drinking, partying, feeding one’s ego, essentially dying, using the assets the Lord has given you, until they are gone. You’ve heard me speak of the four headless horseman? They wait for all of us. The demons that come after your head, alcohol, drugs, gambling, dumb relationships and I highlight dumb relationships with people that will use you up and squander what God has given you including your good name.
You finally lose footing on solid ground. That last walk to the edge, I call it, the final point negative and your fall — “Origin of failure,” ultimately The stepping off into “free fall.” The point of no return. You’ve finally done it. You, your arrogance, inept attitude and your choice to be ignorant in the face of what is right, and now without a parachute, you’re going down. Right before that, you might think, “I’ve been through it before and it was okay,” you might even feel impervious to catastrophic failure. Like Teflon, it seems that all the crud seems to slip off and you get away with it one more time. Many have seen the end still thinking these ridiculous thoughts …
Proverbs 26:12 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
How do you avoid free fall? Do what needs to be done with discernment, good council and the Word at your side, every morning, learning, reading, being close the the Lord.
Forget justifying stupid with the statement, “I know this is what God wants me to do!”
How do I know it’s not? First start with sin, are you using money that isn’t yours, borrowing against “perceived benefits.” What is perceived benefit? “I think this will work, even though the process is a bit sketchy.” Wrong. It will not work, the end does not justify the means.
You think it’ll be okay if you just get this money or do this thing with this person and then, it’ll be great! Be ever so careful, quick, stop what you’re doing. Stop believing God wants you to borrow money to pay for something that has never worked before and on top of it you’re already in trouble — making alliances with clear trouble makers, not good. God never wants you to do things that cause you to sin, stay clear of crazy thinking and entitlement, do the hard thing, make it right every chance you get.
Your family, business, mind, health, car, house, children, employees, law, the seven disciplines, the triangle, all of it here in these chapters will derail you from a one way ticket to chaos if you read them, and most importantly the scriptures outlined in ever chapter! If they can keep me in line, they’ll do the same for you.
Psalm 119:105 ESV
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Every one of us knows how to behave, yet we don’t, why? Paul says it best.
Romans 7:15-25 New International Version (NIV)
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.
- Make adjustments in yourself, live by the rules and make things right when you’ve failed. Be consistent.
- Remember, there is a God and you’re not it. What you need He will provide. If you had more, how would that provide praise and honor to the Lord, especially when you can’t take care of what you have already?
James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
Chapter 3, Free Fall. Challenge makes you better, and wisdom comes from applied knowledge and experience, scripture based, prayer based, obedience based.
“If you Quit integrating a better you into a better you, a lousy you will prevail.”
Proverbs 27:12 New International Version (NIV)
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Let me leave you with some thoughts.
Isaiah 8:20 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.
(Note that I don’t know when or where I’ve received the following, I’ve discovered these words in my notes.) When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do before on his unaided strength and resources alone. He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being. He has been set on a path which tells him he is really going somewhere, that life is not a dead end, not something to be endured or mastered. In a very real sense he has been transformed, because he has laid hold of a source of strength which, in one way or another, he had hitherto denied himself. He finds himself in possession of a degree of honesty, tolerance, unselfishness, peace of mind, and love of which he had thought himself quite incapable. What he has received is a free gift, and yet usually, at least in some small part, he has made himself ready to receive it. God is in him.
You see, God is interested in the process as well as in the outcome. Without correctness in all of it, without counsel in the Lord on all matters, we skirt the frightening reality of Chapter 3, Free Fall. After that last step into they abyss, may God help us all.
Amen.
