A Spiritual Autopsy - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
DQ'd
The Apostle Paul saw himself as the runner of a race, a race God had given to him. Paul, in considering liberties, wanted to make sure he never did anything that would disqualify him from the race God had set before him. His passion in life was to run his race well. For Paul, he was a preacher, apostle, and teacher to the Gentile world (2 Timothy 1:11).He said this concerning his race: "I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor 9:27)Picture Paul in his running shoes, tank top, and little running shorts. He wanted to be sure he ran his race well. He didn't want to do anything that would DQ him from his race. He wanted to run it well.
A Case In Point
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Paul took a long, hard look at the generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt. Despite all their spiritual benefits, "their bodies were scattered in the wilderness" (10:5). Paul saw that particular group as guilty of disqualification. God had a course for them, a course that would take them to the Promised Land, but they didn't make it. Like a coroner investigating the cause of death, Paul performs a spiritual autopsy on that generation of Israelites, determining their cause of disqualification.It is important to note that this generation of Israelites had been delivered from Egypt. The blood of the passover lamb was spread on their doorposts in Egypt. They had passed through the Red Sea. They were a redeemed group of people, but their life after the blood wasn't all it could be.
Their Benefits
Paul mentions a few of the benefits of the Israelites, benefits that carry forward to the Corinthian church (and also us). Here are some of them.- Spiritual Guidance: they were under the cloud (10:1).- Spiritual Deliverance: they passed through the Red Sea (10:1).- Spiritual Identification: they were identified with Moses by the cloud and sea (10:2).- Spiritual Food: they ate the manna from heaven (10:3).- Spiritual Drink: they drank from the Rock (10:4).Obviously, this generation was set up to do well. They were not set up to fail. Still, in spite of those benefits, they experienced disqualification in their race. Here's how...
Their Crimes
1. They lusted after evil things (6): complained about manna.2. They became idolaters (7): created a golden calf.3. They committed sexual immorality (8): with the women of Moab.4. They tempted Christ (9): and were struck by serpents.5. They complained against God (10): and disbelieved He could deliver them to the Promised Land.Every one of these crimes was a step in the wrong direction for that generation, steps the Corinthians were in danger of taking. Some of them had grown tired of God's word and had begun their own campaign for something other than the manna of God's word. Some of them had begun actual or spiritual idolatry by creating their own set of rules and ignoring the teaching of the apostles. Some of them had engaged in blatant immorality. Some of them had questioned God's leadership over them. Still others had cried out against God completely.
Our Hope
Paul holds out these "examples" (10:11) to us for a reason. He isn't trying to shame that generation, but he knows that generation would want us to learn from their mistakes. He tells us that we can be victorious over temptation by taking the way of escape God provides to us (10:13).To me, Paul holds out that autopsy report as a healthy reminder that we be not disqualified from the race God has set before us. A wonderful thing about our God is the grace and mercy available when we have been guilty of the characteristics found in that generation. I find Him willing and able to forgive, cleanse, renew, and refresh us when we need to get back in that race. He is able!I would encourage you to run your race well. None of us will ever run it perfectly, not even close. Still, strap on the running shoes and live the life God has called you to live. Each one of us has a course to run, a calling to obey, and Lord to follow. Consider the great benefits we've been given and run the race with endurance, setting aside the weights of sin that so easily ensnare us (Heb 12:1). Run with endurance!
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