THE CHRISTIAN'S MANNER OF LIVING FOR STAYING THE COURSE TO THE FINISH
In a perfect world, all is well and everyone lives in peace with no wars or rumors of wars - simply because ungodliness has ceased to exist. News Flash: We do not live in a perfect world! Never have since the Fall . . . never will until we all get to heaven - and what a day of rejoicing that will be! Imperfect world, imperfect people!
In many life situations, imperfection breeds negative emotions that lead to aggressive actions - seething resentment . . . bubbling anger . . . boiling rage . . . explosive outbursts . . . aggressive behaviors - a fact of human existence which puts Christians between the proverbial rock and hard place with regard to how to deal with it.
At this point of vulnerability, we Christians find ourselves wondering who listen to, what to believe, how we ought to respond - a predicament that really boils down to the challenge presented to us in our current series:
"Living a Godly Life in an Ungodly World".
In a world torn by the strife of many voices clamoring for the attention of the masses, seeking to sway opinion in the direction of their view, the worst act of aggression is war - whether it be a war of bullets or words or destructive behaviors.
In Northern Ireland, an American peacemaker negotiated a treaty between warring factions of Catholics and Protestants, persuading their leaders to set aside a certain day for throwing eggs instead of rocks at each other.
Would it be asking too much of Christians the world over to listen to Jesus? "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God!"
However, that same Jesus - who emphasized peace and peace-making - also warned His disciples: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ', and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Matthew 24:4-7).
In the midst of conflict - whether within or without - sons of God depend on God! The Apostle John put it succinctly: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!"
Folks: When we get up each morning, we never know what a day will bring. We hope for the best, yet we wouldn't be surprised at the worst. Even so, we do our best to make the most of each day that we have.
A positive attitude despite potential "dangers, toils and snares" of the kind through which we have already come will do more than we can imagine to make our day brighter and better: "This is a day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it."
Judah, under the reign of King Asa, enjoyed a decade of peace, then faced a day of reckoning. King Asa had already made preparations for the inevitability of war - brought on by a ruthless foreign regime bent on the destruction of Israel. Prepare as he might, though, his best would not be enough. He must have God's help - 2 Chronicles 14:9-11 . . .
Facing an enemy twice the size of Judah's army, there had been no advance warning! Even so, there was no panic on Asa's part - not even a hint of it. Let me tell you why: Asa faced his God before he faced his opponent!
Face the Lord God before you face the enemy!
This benevolent monarch's attitude of dependence on the LORD God had been evident from the outset of his reign - so that even his epitaph preceded his coronation: "Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God.
No one who knew Asa, having observed his worship of and devotion to the one and only Jehovah God, was surprised to hear this good king voice a powerful prayer that declared his dependence on God and inspired faith in his warriors.
Asa hit a "home run” prayer that hopefully will have a similar effect on you and me - Christian soldiers who "stand up for Jesus" - as it had on the army fighting for Judah - a prayer that consisted of an admission of humility followed by three expressions of faith in Almighty God:
First: There was (must be) an admission of incompetence apart from the Lord our God's omniscience. Asa "cried out to God" for help - "those (of us) without strength". That effectual fervent prayer which avails much begins by acknowledging our human weakness!
A pep talk incorporating a rallying cry might have been the inclination of an orator-type leader whose words sway people's minds and stir emotions but rhetoric apart from resolve has no lasting value . . . Asa could have but didn't reel off a "let's go get 'em" speech . . . Instead, he uttered a desperate plea:
"Sovereign God, numbers mean nothing to you! "These enemies of ours are many - and militarily powerful. We are fewer in number and we do not have their physical strength. To put it plainly: "Without God's help, we will fail."
Folks: In a world full of pride and self-sufficiency, these words of Asa's got God's attention - as will ours IF we "humble ourselves under God's mighty hand".
Second: There was (must be) a heart-felt expression of confidence. "On Thee, 0 Lord, we depend!" If you've ever prepared for battle as in an army training camp --¬ there was always that nagging awareness that such exercises fall short of the real battle - in which ominous feelings (such as foreboding, fear, anxiety, gloom) threaten a soldier's sense of security . . . Not so, Asa!
Asa's calm sense of well-being was not founded on some secret weapon Israel possessed. Nor was his peace of mind due to defenses he had constructed or training he had conducted.
What Asa had was that resolve of his ancestor David who, as he faced Goliath, made the determination that: victory would not be won by the size of his enemy, but by the strength of his God! Would you please here and now make that determination!
Third: There was (must be) an expression, based on fact, of one's connection to the Lord God. "In Your Name we go up against this enemy!” Sure, Asa's name was attached to the battle - and the victory- but Asa insisted on glory for God's name!
To God be the glory! "Give unto the Lord glory due His Name. Not unto us but unto thy name we give glory ... For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory - forever!"
Fourth: There was (must be) an expression, based on fact, of commitment. "Lord, You are our God. "To make a commitment in a crisis situation is a natural response . . . and there's no reason to "pooh-pooh" those who do so.
But! Wouldn't it be a lot better if we who are His . . . belong to Jesus . . . are sons of God . . . heirs with Christ were like Asa who required no predicament to force him to choose God. We love God because He first loved us. We chose God because He first chose us. When did God choose us? When "God so loved the world that He gave . . . that whosoever!"
You will recall that in a time of peace (I Chron.14: 3-4) Asa had done just that¬ -- advised the people of Judah to choose God: "Seek the Lord God of your ancestors and carry out the instructions you have been given".
Thus, when tough times came, and the going was rough, Asa had become so disciplined in his faith that he was ready to take on any challenge he faced by trusting in the Lord and depending on Him to see him through every crisis.
Days of trouble come unexpectedly to you and me, as they did during Asa's era of peace - when everything seemed to be going well. It is inevitable that we will face trials and tribulations. Christians are not exempt from life's struggles.
However . . . God is greater than anything we face! He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."
If we were to permit incompetence to rule our thoughts and actions, what a pitiful existence ours would be! However, unshakable faith grants us confidence - to depend on the Lord . . .affords us a vital connection - to that name above every name . . . rewards our commitment to God - with peace that surpasses understanding. Since God is for us, come what may, we will - with God's help - make it - all the way! Amen.
