Therefore, Stand

John Sterling (December, 1014)

I have lived long upon the earth and I have observed certain things about my fellow man.  I have observed that people usually just want to be left alone.  They wish to live peace and for the most part, are content to let their neighbors live in peace as well.  In fact, an important part of our understanding of the function of government is that it is instituted for the purpose of protecting us from unwanted and unwarranted intrusion into our lives.

I have observed that the nature of government is to govern, which means to control.  In a sense, they can't help it...it is the nature of the beast.  The founders knew this and knew also that if government was not kept in chains it would destroy the power that created it (the people).  The people (desiring to just be left alone) have failed to monitor the beast and to keep its chains secure. We note throughout the history of man, that once loosed, the beast cannot easily be returned to captivity. This results in an inevitable war between the people and the government it created (or allowed) and to which certain authority and power have been ceded.  I say inevitable because it seems that history repeats itself over and again, even though we study history and should have learned from it.

If you have not seen Mel Gibson's movie, "The Patriot" I highly recommend it.  (NOT the Steven Segal movie by the same name).  No sane person ever wants war, or to see their children become warriors unless forced into that role.  In that case, you would want your children to become the best warriors they could be.  The problem is when we ignore the possibility that war might be inevitable, and that our children might have no choice but to become warriors.  Then when the need arises (as history teaches will be just a matter of time) we are forced to react and often react too slowly.

Being proactive, then, is the order of the day. If we are proactive spiritually, we transform our enemies into our friends and remove the threat. If we are proactive politically, we neutralize our enemies' abilities to attack us and we restrain the threat. If we fail in those two, then we it is likely that our path will be chosen for us and we must react to the threat in the best way possible.

Sir Edmund Burke (1729-1797 ) said that "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing".   In Ephesians 5: 15-16 we read, "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. "  In Eph 6: 13 says, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. "

We are exhorted then to study (gain knowledge), and be wise (apply that knowledge correctly). Then, walking in wisdom, and relying on our spiritual preparation as well, we are expected to “hold the line”…to STAND, firm and unyielding.

One of the very popular verses in the Bible concerning God’s provision is found in Matthew, 6: 32-33.  In context the verse is speaking of God’s provision for His children of the basic necessities of life: food and clothing.   I think it is not a stretch to say that another basic need of man is protection from our enemies, and that God likewise offers His divine provision for that as well. "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?  Verse 32 reads, "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “  The “Gentiles, here referring to people who outside of God’s covenant,  try very hard to obtain theses things, just as every human being does, but the inference is that they are doing so without any acknowledgement that those things come from God.  In verse 33 then, we read, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.…” and we (covenant people) are to find the necessities of life directly from the hand of God.

In America (as in many other places in the world) people look to Government to be their provider, and protector, and sustainer.   But these are specifically the province of God.  When we look to anything or anybody, for the things that are supposed to come from God, then we have placed “gods” before Him.   We have made idols of government and of the things that government promises if we will be “good citizens”. 

Eventually, the god that we have created will demand that we serve him, and inevitably will demand more and more until we are reduced to slavery.  Of course, if we refuse, we will be arrested, or even killed. The cycle of violence continues: governments rise and fall and man is subjected to periods of subjugation, despair, violence, war, and perhaps, sometimes for brief periods, relative peace  before the cycle begins again.

In the verses just preceding  Mt 6: 33 (above ) Jesus said that man cannot serve masters (Mt 6:24). Both will demand absolute loyalty. We can choose one, or the other, but we cannot serve both.  In this world, and at this time, we in America are being divided by many issues.  But we see a line being drawn in the proverbial sand, and all of America will have to choose on which side of the line we will stand.  One side represents God, and His righteousness, while the other represents Mammon- the kings (governments) of this world.  We may choose, but we may choose only one.  No matter which we choose, because we have allowed our nation to depart from the righteous path, we will have to fight the monster that we have created or be consumed by it. Ultimately, the battle is the Lord’s and every American will have to seek God’s wisdom and discernment as to how to negotiate the path that is before us.  But know this: if we are grounded firmly in the Word of God, we WILL stand (Eph 6:13) but if our loyalties are with Mammon, there will be Hell to pay.

John Sterling

December 11, 2014