Do you have a Nathan in your life?

 Most of us go through life minding our own business and our own sins too. A lot of times we keep on sinning and we don't even realize we're doing it, because sin has been so engraved in our lives, that it feels normal to do certain things; things that no longer seem sinful in our daily life. They have become a habit in our daily walk. But remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah in the book that bears his name, in chapter 17 verse 9 and 10:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?   “I the Lord search the heart  and test the mind,  to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

No matter how normal  we can call our habitual sin, it's still sin in the eyes of God and the only reason we call it "normal" is because our heart is "sick" or "wicked" like other translations say. We cannot mock God or outsmart Him, "His thoughts are higher than ours". (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I have a feeling David wanted to outsmart God in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. He's walking around the roof of his palace when all of a sudden, he sees a beautiful girl. Her name was Bathsheba. But there's a problem, she was married and her husband was part of David's army. His name was Uriah. Not only that, the girl gets pregnant with David's baby, and that's a real problem. Why do I say David wanted to outsmart God? I say that because he tries to cover his sin by doing different things and hopefully, get away with it. First, he calls for Uriah and tells him to go home to his wife with the hope he sleeps with her. You know, to make it seem that baby was his! But Uriah, seems to have a better heart than David at this time. He couldn't enjoy his wife knowing his fellow soldiers were in the battleground. So, he decides not to go and stay at the palace entrance with David servants. When David realizes he didn't go home and why he didn't, he invites him to dinner and get him drunk but still, old faithful Uriah does not go home. This is when David starts to get worried and starts planning Uriah's death because he cannot allow getting caught up in this wicked thing he has done. He then orders his commander Joab to put Uriah in the front line and pull back the troops so he can get killed, and he does.

I think for a moment David thinks he has gotten away with murder, literally, but God sends a man to him; not just any man, God sends a prophet. His name was Nathan. Nathan, in his wisdom, tells a story to David, but I want you hear it from his own lips:

 "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” (2 Samuel 12:1-4). Quite a story isn't it? But what it is really amazing is the hypocritical response from David: "David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6). David knew he had done wrong but he still wanted to cover his sin, and isn't it true that we all do that as well? We never want to get caught and like David, we try our best to cover our faults. But, God has raised great men that are willing to point out your sin despite the consequences. God's name is at stake!

Look at the following verse: "Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord..." (2 Samuel 12:‭7 ESV). Nathan could have gotten killed. He was confronting the King! But David came to his senses, and admitted his own sinful behavior: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord .” "And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord , the child who is born to you shall die.”(2 Samuel 12:13‭-‬14 ESV). Isn't God something? God spared David's life. However, the child he had with Bathsheba died as part of the consequences of his sin. There were many more consequences, but you can read them in the rest of chapter 12.

Do you have a Nathan in your life? Obviously, Nathan was encouraged, empowered and sent by God to point out David's sin and hopefully lead him to repentance which he did. What do you do when somebody that you really trust comes to you and say: "We need to talk"? And after you get together, you come to find out that that person is trying to point out a sin in your life that is about to destroy you. What is your reaction? Do you take it like David did, or you just end the friendship because that's none of their business? All they're trying to do is to help you to turn away from your sin. Does your pride get in the middle of your restoration? Depending on your reaction, that person can usually tell where your heart really is. Remember: 

"Brothers,  if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted". (Galatians 6:1 ESV). The idea is not for that person to tear you down and destroy the relationship you have with him or her. The idea is to restore you with gentleness, not grumpiness or judgement. However, they need to be blunt about your sin. Nathan was, "you are that man" he said to David. They cannot beat around the bushes. They need to be clear about your sin, and with love, turn you away from it. Do you have a Nathan? Or are you afraid to have one? I think it was blessing to David to have a Nathan in his life. What would have happened to him if Nathan hadn't been in the picture? Probably, he would have been struck by God because of his sin. Maybe, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to come to his senses and repent. God sends you Nathans for a reason. He wants you to realize your sin and repent. Sometimes it takes another person to help you realize that. Sometimes you just get convicted and repent. " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". (1 John 1:9 ESV)

I ask the question one more time: "Do you have a Nathan?". If you don't, maybe it would be a good idea to find a trustworthy person and make it your Nathan. I think that will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Accountability goes a long way. And don't forget, you could be a Nathan to someone else as well. It's a two way street. I think James 5:16 is a good accountability verse: "therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working".  Be wise. Find a Nathan that is a trustworthy, God fearing, well balanced person. You don't want a gossiper that's going to destroy your life instead of building it up. The idea is to restore, not to destroy. Thank God for all the Nathans I've had in my life and still have. They are a blessing to me! They will be a blessing to you too!