David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel and of the tribes… – 1 Chronicles 28:1, Amplified Bible

Satan hates the God who created him, but Satan has no power to directly hurt his Creator. So, instead, he comes after the Creator’s children. Unfortunately, Satan is quite adept at causing God’s children to sin, and very often we experience a by-product of our sin that absolutely thrills the Enemy. This by-product is a post-sin failure to continue working for our Lord.

Have you ever committed such an egregious act of sin that you felt like God could no longer use you? Maybe you felt that having your name associated with God’s would be such a blight on God’s name that it would be better if you just disappeared? This is understandable because when we fall, there will be those who say, “Well, if being a Christian means being like you, I’ll pass!” Hiding from other people, however, is not what God would have us to do. He would have us seek forgiveness and then get back to work.

In 1 Chronicles 28 and 29, we find King David passing the torch of leadership to King Solomon. Evident in these chapters are: 1) David’s hard work in preparing for the construction of God’s house, 2) David’s love for his son, Solomon, and 3) David’s ability to rally his entire nation to support, both with their money and with their worship, the construction of God’s house. No doubt, to be present at the God-focused events detailed in these chapters would have been emotionally exciting, tremendously inspirational, and spiritually uplifting.

But what preceded David and the nation of Israel getting to this point? David’s adultery with Bathsheba, David’s murder of Uriah, and David provoking God to destroy 70,000 men (not including women and children) in retaliation for numbering the people without His permission. David’s life was marked by multiple, huge sins that caused suffering for many. But David’s life was also marked by humble, contrite repentance after each offense. Due to his repentant heart, God restored David both to full fellowship with Him and to full service for Him, regardless of what other people thought of David.

Never let the reality that some will despise us when we sin stop us from carrying on our work for Christ. God’s plan for us is not to disappear so we can preserve His name. His plan for us is to repent, obtain His forgiveness, and keep our hands on the plow.

No matter what man may do, God does not define His children by their failures. He defines His children by their humility and by their obedience. Don’t let your failures keep you from the Lord’s work; that pleases Satan. Repent of your failures, seek forgiveness, and get back to work, for that pleases God.