"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places". Ephesians 6:12
In a democratic culture such as ours, we believe that our vote counts, and that by exercising our right to choose, we can actually and significantly change the world around us. We are all taught from our youth that we have it within ourselves to accomplish anything, if we simply put our minds to it and give it our best efforts. And when we become Christians we carry that optimism over into our theology. If God tells us to do something, it must be because we have the ability to do what he commands! Choice becomes everything. And thus we fall headlong into one of the greatest heresies in church history, the heresy of Pelagianism. It is really quite simple; grace alone doesn't make much sense to an American who doesn't think that much is wrong with the human condition in the first place. For if people are basically good, why then, do we need grace in order to be saved, live...?
As goes our beliefs, politics, theology, our concept of God... "free will" "free people" free choice... We should be left to ourselves to choose, people are basically good and could determine for themselves what is right and wrong... "land of the free"... and so on and so on... Meanwhile we are becoming more and more enslaved as a people and have completely lost the perfect freedom, that God has to offer for His very elect.
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31).
But unfortunately we have become disciples of an ideology, concept... with words, such as, "Freedom," "Patriotism," "Strength", Power, Choice, Rights, "Free Will"... not the freedom that God provides, but the freedom that man has to offer. A freedom that is builded upon man's point of view of what life has to offer. A freedom that has always been build on the sand. A freedom that would never survive under the tests of time, "because we have exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:25).
Yes, we at times give God some credit as to our little battles won here and there. We interject a prayer when it's convenient, to make us feel a little better about ourselves. But if we carefully read the inscription underneath the belly of that creature that we have nurtured over our short period in history, it would read, "Made in the USA, by the People, for the People" who have lost their way, roots and their creator. In the midst of our struggle, battle... for freedom, our political, spiritual leaders, as a people, have replaced the providence and the Sovereignty of God with patriotism, freedom and whichever political affiliations we align ourselves with. We have put our hands on the plow, and have looked back to see...
Please do not misunderstand. I'm not saying that we should not exercise our authority in speaking out against injustice, atrocities... We shouldn't be as robots and just stand by idly, as a sinful world run-amuck. We should pick our battles, in order to win the war. Parents, should truly understand as to what I mean by that statement. We should be in constant prayer as to, when, where and how, we are to take that stand, without loosing focus. Satan loves to distract us from that battlefield, in making sure that we loose focus, as we take off our full armor, rest and see what's going on, in matters that pertain to absolutely nothing in our walk and struggles.
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).
We have taking our eyes of the prize, duty and off the real war that's being waged in the heavenly places and have fixed our eyes on a target, that we have no business meddling into. A war that is being fought at every front imaginable against unbelievers and their ideals that have absolutely nothing to do with the Saints, elect of God or His purpose. Reason as to why such confusion, chaos... within our country (political system) and Christendom (churches). Absolutely no direction as to our goal and purpose. We have fixed our eyes and our undivided attention as to what the unbelievers say, think and do, (insurmountable amount of issues) instead of intensely looking unto our Commanding officer's leadership, orders or direction, as He has set forth for us (soldiers of Christ) to follow. We have decided to march in front of our God of Hosts in battle, thinking that we are in control, in handling everything pertaining to this war that is being waged against us all. After all we are Americans and nothing can stand in our way, when we put our minds to it. This has been our heritage, ideology... that has existed through our veins since our conception, throughout the history of this great country of ours.
May we come to the end of ourselves and realize that it is God that is in total control of His plan for our existence. That, it is Him, that goes forward in battle, as our LORD of HOSTS, and in giving us a clear understanding as to our objectives in the final victory. The choice is ours. We can reject, rebel... go our way and do our thing. But with or without us, victory will be, without a single doubt, His. It is up to us, how we get there. Exhausting ourselves from things that we have never been giving the authority to do, as this is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. Our commission has never changed and has always been;
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
Let us not be, the "some that doubted". Let us continue the commission with confidence in Him and not of ourselves, and finish the work that he has commissioned us to do. Let us keep those hands on the plow, without worrying as to what's behind us. Time waits for no man and our Creator will not wait for us as we keep playing in the sandbox.
"To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him". Ephesians 3:8
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