So many Christians sadly believe that they have blown it so badly that they have rendered themselves useless to God. This feeling often begins with their own guilt over whatever sin they have committed. Unfortunately, this feeling is then often propagated by a lack of grace from fellow Christians. Interestingly, grace outside the walls of the congregation often knows no limits. Any drug addict, adulterer, alcoholic, etc, who cries out to God and seeks comfort from a congregation will find themselves loved and nurtured by the body. But within the actual congregation where this same truth should apply, it is often lacking. We tend to judge each other more harshly making comments like, "I can't believe she actually got pregnant and had an abortion", or "He never seemed like the type who would cheat on his wife or cheat on his taxes", or, "He should have known better than to get involved with that crowd", or, "I never pictured him getting into drugs or alcohol." It is these types of statements and the lack of grace and love which often go along with it which make an individual feel like they no longer have any standing with God. Every Christian should understand the concept of "positional sanctification". In other words, once we have repented that first time and accepted the payment on the cross that was offered by Jesus, we became God's child. This position or standing at the moment of justification, or the moment we are declared righteous based on Jesus' finished work, is once and done, and the penalty of sin has been paid for once and for all. Since our standing is based on what He did rather than what we have done, it cannot be lost based on our actions as long as we repent and return to Him. The other part of sanctification, called "progressive or experiential sanctification" will see us grow from immature to mature believers, with our ability to be used getting stronger as we empty ourselves and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to take prominence over our lives. This progressive sanctification is the process where we actively apply the promises of God and the power of sin over our lives is removed as we begin to walk in holiness (repenting of sins the Holy Spirit reveals and turning away from them for good by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit within us).
As we read the sad results of a life that could have been so much more for Samson in Judges 14-16, we must not forget that Samson is actually mentioned in Hebrews 11:32 in God's Hall of Faith. There is more to the life of Samson than is written on these pages. So, this man of faith had blown it time and time again. There is a tendency for everyone who sins a little here, compromises a little there, with no immediate or apparent results to keep pushing things a little further. But eventually we read the sad verse in Judges 16:20-21, "And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in prison." This is what sin does to any of us, it binds, then it blinds, and will cause us to grind. Wasting away in bondage to the Philistines, Samson must have felt that he had fallen too far, and that God was done with him. But we read in Judges 16:28, "Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" God did indeed empower Samson and he brought the entire temple down on the Philistines.
What is important is to never forget that once we have repented, believed in our heart, accepted His payment, and made Him Lord of our lives, the position that we have is immovable. This does not mean that we go on sinning and lean on cheap grace, because it is not cheap, it cost our Savior His life. But it does mean that we simply need to humble ourselves, empty ourselves, come clean before Him, restore our fellowship with Him, and we will in the process render ourselves useful for His glory once again. So, fellow Christians, no matter what you have done, free yourselves from the bondage, which is robbing you of your freedom, and enjoy the position as a child of the Most High God, a daughter or son of the King!