you Amen, if you'd like to find your place in Judges chapter one, Judges chapter one, we'll start reading in verse 21. The title of the message is the man that was let go. The man that was let go. Judges 1 and verse 21, it says, and the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem. But the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. And the house of Joseph sent to decry Bethel. Now the name of the city before was Luz. And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy. And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword. but they let go the man and all his family. And the man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day." I can't recall how many times I've read through my Bible and really, I can't really recall remembering this story. Now, it's always been there. But yet it never just jumped off the page at me when I went through it. And I don't even think I've ever heard a message out of this passage. Now maybe I did, I don't know, but I just can't remember ever hearing a message from this particular story. As I was reading through the book of Judges a few weeks ago, this passage literally just came to life and jumped off the pages, if you would, of the Bible and said, hey, there's something here that we need. There's something here that God has for us and had for me on that day. And there's a character in this passage who is faced with a decision. Now he's not named, it just says a man. There was a man, that of the city there, and there's no name given to this man, but every man on earth is faced with a decision. For this man, his decision, as we read, set him free. But what he chooses to do with that freedom is really what caught my eye in this story. This passage is very important because God put it in the Bible. God could have easily left out this part that the house of Joseph sent spies and spotted a man, spared the man, and just went straight into the end of the story, if you would, where the city was smote by the edge of the sword. But as I was reading this passage, this story is not about the spies. It's not about the man that was fired. It's not about the city being smoked by the edge of the sword. This story is about the mercy and the saving power of the Lord. This story is about the fact that God gives each person a choice. You can accept God's mercy or you can reject God and his mercy. The climax of this story is not the fact that the city was smoked with the edge of the sword. That's not the climax of the story. The climax of this story is what this man did with the mercy and grace that was shown to him. Do you know that that's what's going to be the climax of your life when your life is told, when the story of your life is told? What you did with the mercy and the grace of God that was shown to you is going to be the climax of your life. You may have made a million dollars in this life. You may have traveled the world, but none of that's gonna matter. The only thing that's gonna matter is what you did with the salvation that God gave you. Here we see that this man's decision is forever engraved in the word of God. The title of this message is the man that was let go. Now we too were under condemnation of sin. We too were under the judgment of God because of who we once were. This man, just by his relation to the city of Luz, because he was a resident of that city, he too was under the same condemnation as everybody else in the city, but we see that God left him a choice. We too had a choice. when God sent somebody our way. He didn't send spies, but he sent his servants who gave us a clear presentation of what state we were in. We were sinners. We were under condemnation. We too were on a broad way that leadeth to destruction, but thank God for the people or the person who brought us a choice. Now this man at this point makes the right choice, but here's the message. What did he do with his choice? What are you and I doing with the deliverance and the mercy and the grace and the new opportunity that God has given us? Number one, we see the man's knowledge. In verse 24 it says, and the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, And they said unto him, show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy. What this passage, this verse tells me is this man had some inside information. You know, there's some things that only you and God know about yourself. And by the way, if it's a private thing, especially in regards to sin, make sure you keep that to yourself. A Christian can ruin his testimony by revealing inside sins. The Bible says to confess your faults one to another, not your sins. If God saved you and he's forgiven all your sin, then don't wallow in that sin and definitely don't share it with others. If you're ever given an opportunity to testify and give your testimony and share your story, then you should leave any mention of your little dirty details of your sin out of your testimony. Why? Because that does not bring any glory to God. And matter of fact, it may even push that person that you're trying to testify to and witness to away instead of drawing them to the Lord. I've heard stories of Christians who got up at a church and testified about how dirty of a sinner they were, went into details, and before you know it, and before they even realized it, it wasn't helping them or anybody else. As a matter of fact, people were starting to watch that person a little closer. They ought to have been talking about how great a savior Jesus is. It's like, let's say, a serial killer, and I'm just using this as an illustration, but a serial killer got saved and somehow got released from prison, and he's in a side of a church, said, let me get my testimony, and he starts talking about his previous sins and said that I've targeted ladies between the ages of 60 and 80. What do you think every lady in the church of that age is going to do? Uh-oh. He just ruined his opportunity. He ruined the effect of his testimony. Here in our passage, this man had some inside knowledge of the city. The key to this man and his family's survival was that he become honest about his condition, honest about this inside information that he had concerning the city. He had to reveal the secrets of the city. You know, in order to get saved, every person has to become honest about their condition. that they're sinners and that they're under condemnation and there's nothing that they can do to survive that condemnation unless they become honest before God and admit to God their sin. We see here this man's acknowledgement. We also see that this man had a choice to make. Now he had the choice to either stay loyal to his city or help the spies and be spared from the judgment that was coming. That was his choice. When a person is presented with the gospel of Jesus Christ, they too have a decision or a choice to make. Keep your place here and go to Mark chapter 10. Mark chapter 10. And when he was gone forth into the way, Mark chapter 10 verse 17, sorry about that. Mark 10, 17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him, good master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God. Thou knowest commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, defraud, not honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Verse 21, then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him, one thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Now, this man is left with a decision to make, a choice. He came looking for one thing, but now when the solution to what he is looking for is given to him, he has to make his own choice, his own decision. Verse 22. And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around about and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again and saith unto him, Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, well, who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible. This man was presented with a choice. And he made the decision to trust in his riches instead of putting faith in Jesus Christ. Go back to Judges chapter one. This story here in Judges chapter one, we see that this man had a choice to make. We see that he had knowledge of his condition. He had knowledge that there was a way out of the condemnation that he was under. He could have trusted in his own riches. He could have trusted in this city and the fortifications of the city, the army in the city, his fame, his fortune, maybe the position that he had in the city, maybe his own efforts, or by faith, he could trust in the deliverance that was promised by the spies. We see that this man, number one, we see that he had knowledge. Number two, we see that mercy was extended. In verse 25 it says, and when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword, but they let go the man and all his family. Because this man became honest and revealed his faith, and his faith was evident by his actions. He acted on the mercy that had been extended to him and his family. There was a clear testimony of his decision that he made. We see also that he was spared from the destruction of the city. Let me ask you this. Do your decisions reflect whose side you're on? Do the people that you hang around or allow into your life, and maybe not necessarily people like friends and things like that, but I'm talking about those that you allow in your life through the internet, through the eye gate, the ear gate, they reveal whether or not you are a true follower of Christ. Who we associate with is who we are. Show me your friends and I'll show you who you are right now and I'll show you your future. The city was called Luz and Luz means almond or almond tree or wood. Something that's very temporal, something that could be burned if you would. But this town of Luz we see in our story was defeated and it was renamed Bethel, the house of God. This man did not gain his freedom because he earned it. He was granted mercy based on his decision. For by grace, or you say through faith, and that not of yourselves, the Bible says, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 10.13 says, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. John 3.16 says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Number one, we see that this man had knowledge. We see that mercy was extended. Now so far in our story, so far as we've gotten here, everything's looking pretty good for this person. But right here is the question. What does this person do with the knowledge he has and the mercy and the new beginning that he's been granted? Number three, we see his future. Look at verse 26. And the man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day. Here is the sad picture of many people who will profess Christ, they'll be given a brand new start, but when given the opportunity, they revert back to their old lifestyle. He didn't go and build a city and call it the house of God. No, he went to the land of the Hittites, not God's people, and built a city and named it Luz. Go to 2 Corinthians chapter 5, 2 Corinthians chapter 5. We see that there wasn't much change in this man. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17. The Bible says, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. to wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, and though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Now, we've got to understand this story. The man was spared. His family was spared. He experienced the mercy and grace of God. He was given a new start, but he made the decision to not become a new creature. He immediately reverted back to the man that he was before. He was given that opportunity. In Proverbs 26, 11, it says, as a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. You know what we see here? We see there's no testimony of true salvation. Go to 2 Peter 2, 2 Peter 2 in verse 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the what? The knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happening to them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. What are the lessons learned from this man that was let go? Number one, knowledge demands a response. What will a person do with the truth that God has given them? Number two, we see that mercy is undeserved. Have you accepted God's mercy for yourself? And number three, we see that a new beginning requires a transformation. Are you truly changed? Or are you still building on the same mistakes that before? This man who was let go never fulfilled God's plan for his life. His story has been engraved in the pages of the Word of God as an admonition, not a success story. He is an illustration of someone who came close, but he missed out on having a testimony of a changed life. How many people will come close and even go through the motions for a while, but they will soon turn back to building on their past mistakes? May the Lord help us. to be that new creature, to build our lives and build our testimony with gold and silver and precious stones. Our testimony, our walk with the Lord ought to reflect our new nature. It ought to glorify God and point others to him.