Not Supposed to End this Way

Judges 16:28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. 31 Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.

Hebrews 11:32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

It is sad to be remembered for what might have been. Samson had tremendous potential. Not many people have started with the credentials like his. Born as a result of God's plan in the lives of Manoah and his wife, Samson was to do great work for God-to 'begin deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines'. To help him accomplish God's plan, he was given enormous physical strength.
But Samson was so self-involved - everything and everyone revolved around his 'world of me'. He wasted his strength on practical jokes, women, and revenge. He was like a comic book super hero who misused his super hero powers. He could have strengthened his nation. He could have returned his people to the worship of God. He could have wiped out the Philistines. But even though he did none of these things, Samson still accomplished the purpose announced by the angel who visited his parents before his birth. In his final act, Samson began to rescue Israel from the Philistines.
Interestingly, the book of Hebrews does not mention Samson's failures or his heroic feats of strength-he is simply listed with the others "who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised", and in other ways were given superhuman aide. In the end, Samson acknowledged his dependence on God.
I like stories that end well. I will often skip to the end of a book or movie rental to see if I want to go back and read/watch the whole story. It is hard to read or watch people lose their way making idiotic choices. I know firsthand how selfish, stupid choices will bring pain and sad results. I want the characters in the story to choose the right path or figure how to amend their errors so it tuns out well in the end. Sometimes I want to scream 'hey, do you know how badly this is going to end?' The world today tries so hard to tell us - that our wrong choices do not have consequences; that sin is not real - it is just about making ourselves happy. But truth reigns over fiction. I acknowledge that without God - I am a total mess. Like the words to a song - Give me Jesus, give me Jesus; you can have all this world but give me Jesus." That is how God brings beauty from ashes.