Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood 1 Chronicles 28: 2-3.

There are some people whose lives impact the whole world. Their accomplishments are so great that it is difficult to imagine what our world would be like without them. It is that way with David.

"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations" Matthew 1:17. David’s death marked the end of a significant segment in the history of God’s work. It was an era of tragedy and triumph, darkness and despair, victory and defeat. But at the end, God proved Himself to be a promise keeper.

We can look at this segment of time and see that ever since Adam decided to be "wise as gods", the history of his generations have been sad. If we start with David’s death and look back to Adam, it is easy to see how dangerous it is to live an unaccountable life.

You see, that is what Adam and Eve wanted. They were persuaded to believe that they did not need God’s Word to restrain them. Eventually sin and death became a dominant feature in man’s life. Unaccountability always leads to ruin.

Accountability will keep us from making senseless errors and hurting other people. It will keep us pure and out of harm’s way. There is hardly a time when we are more vulnerable than when we demand freedom from restraints.

And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah 2 Samuel 24:1. If David had listened to Joab, he would not have numbered the people. Joab’s advice was a safety net for David; a way to help him understand that even the king has to learn his limits. But David decided that he did not have to listen to anyone. That one decision brought pestilence and plague into the land, and resulted in the death of over 70,000 people. Although David later felt bad about his error, it still did not decrease the number of graves, or ease the pain of all of those grieving families.

God gives us His Word to help hedge us against unseen dangers. When we ignore God’s Word, we open the door to sin and all of the consequences that follow. Some people will do anything for a little pleasure. The have no regard for who they hurt or maim, as long as they get what they want. But that’s wrong. It is wrong for me to profit at your expense. I may get by for a long time, but my day will come. To know what is right and not do it, is wrong.

If we consider how many churches carry on, it is hard to believe they take God seriously. We should never play games with God. Holiness is serious business. God’s Word is serious about how we should be living.

If we could bring David back and interview him, I believe he would tell us to, "Take God seriously. I was great but I messed it all up". Oh preacher, take God seriously. Oh teacher, take God seriously. Deacon, missionary, husband and wife, take God seriously. If people respect you, trust you and follow you, "Take God seriously".

Every one of us has a purpose. We may not become a king like David, but we are not insignificant. If we live and die without finding God’s purpose for our life, it is a tragedy. It means we missed something special and ordained; something greater than success and riches; something beyond our wildest dreams and imagination. I don’t want to miss God’s purpose.

God had a purpose for making David king. That purpose was to establish righteousness in the earth. David had a desire to build a house for God. But God said no. There may possibly be a desire or dream alive in your heart right now. Sometimes in the quiet solitude, you may think about it. It is your secret quest. But if you miss that dream, don’t miss God’s purpose.

It’s hard to give up your dreams, but David handled it well. "And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and courts..." 1 Chronicles 28:6. David thought about what God had allowed him to do. God had used him in a supernatural way. It’s possible to get so caught up in achieving our own dreams, that we forget about all God has done for us. God has already blessed us far beyond what we deserved. I have made many a mess that God stepped in and cleaned up.

God doesn’t always give us a "yes" answer. Sometimes He says "no". And even though He may give a "no" answer, we can still make the best of all of the other things God is doing in and through us.

I have reached an age now where some dreams I have may never be realized. The educational goals, my unique ministry, things I would like to accomplish as a musician, places I would like to travel, and so on. I have lived with these desires for many years. But if all of these things never happen, I will make the best of Gospel Warriors Ministries right now.

That is the attitude I have, and I don’t feel bad, unfulfilled, or like a failure. I feel great; because by the grace of God, I am doing the best I can with what I have. Therefore, I believe that He will use our efforts to accomplish something greater than my dreams ever could.

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all imaginations of the thoughts 1 Chronicles 28:9. David told Solomon to "Know God" and "Serve God". In other words, do it willingly, whole-heartedly, and hold nothing back.

According to 1 Chronicles 29:28. David died at a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor. When a man of God dies, the things of God that he stood for lives on. We get so much wisdom and encouragement from the life of David. We read the songs that grew out of his despair. We learn how important it is to serve the purpose of God even though our dreams may not be fulfilled.

God loves us, and He never stops. He takes us through the Sauls and Goliaths and Jonathans and Bathshebas and Absaloms and Joabs. And though we may lose our dreams, we can fulfill our goals knowing that we are greatest when God is helping us.

By: Edmund Brown