The Dark Side of Good Men

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THE DARK SIDE OF GOOD MEN

By: Jim Crews
 

We all have things in our lives that no other human knows anything about. In the first century, when there were prophets, these secrets of the heart in potential converts could be known.

I Corinthians 14: 23 - 25

 

We all have secrets. One example is Jared Fogel, who used to be the guy on the Subway commercials. He was secretly a pedophile. Hopefully, the secrets we have are not that dark, but we all do have them. Sometimes married couples find out each other’s dark sides too late. We can hide our dark side and our secrets from everyone else. We cannot hid it from Jesus.

John 2: 24

 

We shouldn’t think that we are the only ones who have a dark side. We have the Scriptures to show us the dark side of other good men of God. We want to take time today to look at a few of them and to see if we can apply the lessons they learned to ourselves.

 

Abraham had a dark side.

Genesis 20: 1 - 13

 

Abraham told a half truth. He told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. This was partially true, but she was also his wife. A half truth is still a lie.

 

Abraham’s lie was motivated by his fear of Abimelech. He was afraid that he might be killed so the king could have Sarah. This was not the only time this has happened. Good men sometimes tell lies. However, lying is inexcusable.

Revelation 21: 8

 

All liars are sinners. All lies are sin. Even a lie that you tell so that you won’t hurt someone’s feelings is a sin. Even little white lies are sins. Telling a kid that there is some mythical being named Santa Claus who brings toys on the man-made holiday called Christmas is a lie. Telling a kid there is some mythical bunny bringing eggs on the man-made holiday called Easter is a sin. Telling your wife she doesn’t look fat, when she does, is a sin. All lies are sin. Is lying a part of your dark side?

 

David had a dark side. David is called a man after God’s own heart.

Acts 13: 22

 

However, David was an adulterer and a murderer.

II Samuel 11: 2 - 4

II Samuel 11: 14 - 15

 

Well, you tell yourself, I’m not an adulterer or a murderer, so the preacher needs to move on to the next point. Are you, though? Are you a murderer?

Matthew 5: 21 - 22

 

Do you hate people? Do you dislike people? Are you angry with people? If so, you have committed a sin akin to murder in the eyes of God. We are to love our fellow man. We are to love our enemies as well as our allies. We are to forgive then and not retaliate against them when we are wronged.

Matthew 5: 38 - 48

 

Are you an adulterer?

Matthew 5: 27 - 28

 

Just looking upon someone else with lust in your heart makes you an adulterer in the eyes of God. We have to exercise self control in this area, especially the way the world is today with all the immodest dress that is allowed by society. We have to exercise self control in this area when we are watching TV or movies. Lust of the eyes and lust of the heart are two of Satan’s ways to tempt us.

 

Are adultery and murder a part of your dark side?

 

Elijah was a great prophet of God. God chose Elijah to do many wonderful things in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of great idolatry. Elijah showed those in the Northern Kingdom the power of God, though they were deeply involved in the worship of the idol baal under the rule of Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah, though, had a dark side.

I Kings 19: 1 - 8

 

Despite the fact that God was with him and fighting every fight for him, Elijah was depressed and lonely. He wanted to die. Is that your dark side? We are children of God. We have no need to ever feel lonely because He is always with us.

Psalm 23

 

Even if no other human being alive cares for us, God does. We should always trust and love Him, knowing that He loves us.

 

We have no need to ever be sad or depressed, because when we die, if we have remained faithful, we have eternal life and eternal happiness. Are loneliness and depression a part of your dark side?

 

Because of his confession of faith, Peter was hand picked by the Messiah to throw open the gates of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 16: 18 - 19

 

Despite this, Peter had a dark side.

Matthew 26: 69 - 75

 

Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times. He did it with an oath and with cursing.

Mark 14: 70 - 72

 

Peter’s denial was motivated by cowardice. He was afraid of men, more than he loved God. Is this your dark side? Are you a coward? Do you back down when challenged by false teachers? Do you not share the Gospel with your family and friends because you don’t want to make them mad? Is cowardice part of your dark side?

 

Peter also had a tongue problem.

James 3: 5 - 10

 

Peter cursed and swore when confronted with the fact that he was a disciple.

 

Is control of your tongue part of your dark side? Do you use language that you should not use? Do you allow your tongue to run unchecked?

 

We all have a dark side.

I Corinthians 4: 5

We should work hard to get rid of our dark side, but the old man likes to return.

Colossians 3: 5 - 11

I Corinthians 15; 33 - 34

 

The dark side often comes out in our homes. Sometimes it comes out in our community. We may mistreat our spouse, our kids, or our parents. We may be a bad neighbor, a bad citizen, or a bad employee.

 

Our dark side doesn’t have to be public. We may let our dark side rule us in our private lives. We may watch pornography or other things we shouldn’t watch. We may drink. We may gamble. We may curse.

 

When we see the dark side of others, we are saddened. How do we feel, though, when our own dark side comes out? Do we try to make excuses for it? Or do we repent?

 

Most of us spend our whole lives working to control our dark side, trying to overcome it. Christians have the option of bringing our dark side to Jesus to be cleansed.

I John 1: 8 - 9

 

He understands us completely. He went through the same things we go through.

Hebrews 2: 14 - 18

Hebrews 4: 15

 

He is there for us, to cleanse us from our sins, as long as we remain faithful to Him.

I John 2: 1 - 6

 

If you are not a Christian, you need to come to Christ today, bringing your dark side and all. How? Repent, confess, be immersed to have your sins washed away, and remain faithful unto death.

 

Don’t give up. Satan wants you to give up. Satan wants you to believe that you have no hope. Christ is our hope. Through His Blood, God will cleanse our souls, as long as we remain faithful to Him. Even when we fall, God is there to pick us back up and forgive us. Remain faithful to Him and He will save you.