Not Safe, But Good
On April 10, 2002, the first battalions of US soldiers forced their way into Baghdad. The night before, their chaplain gathered them together for prayer and worship and he gave a message from Psalm 91 which is a psalm set in the context of literal warfare and it’s all about God’s protection and how he is our shield and defender. It’s the psalm that says; “though a thousand may fall at your side…” no harm will befall you... “he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways… These verses were foremost in the thoughts of these young Marines as they stormed Baghdad. Amazing stuff happ’ned. There were almost no U.S. casualties.
You say, Why, what happened?? There are scores of stories like this one… A Marine Humvee was creeping through the streets of Baghdad. Several soldiers were manning guns but exposed from about the waist up and later said they never felt so vulnerable in all their lives. Bullets were whizzing by from all directions. They came to an intersection and…
…Something told me to look to my right, and when I did, I could see the silhouettes of a small band of Iraqi men less than 25 feet away. They were kneeing with machine guns and RPG’s pointed right at our Humvee (rocket-propelled grenade launcher). The moment stretched into eternity and the fear of death riveted my insides. I prayed knowing that a direct RPG impact upon a Humvee would leave nothing behind but a little puff of smoke. What happened next was simply unexplainable. As soon as Batke could whirl his Mark-19 around and start shooting, the men, for no good reason, stood up as if they’d seen a ghost. They dropped their weapons and ran full-speed into a dark alleyway. It was nothing short of bizarre.
At first they wondered - what did they see that was so terrible to cause this band of fully armed Iraqi’s to turn ghost white and drop their weapons and run? Then they remembered how God said he would send his angels concerning us…
That same day a convoy was heading up under an overpass and the unit operations officer looked up and saw that the overpass was lined with AAVs from end to end, like a steel wall. But something caught his attention that made him take a second look: the AAV’s were not marked....
Whereas all of our battalion vehicles have the distinct and clear markings of our unit painted in bold white letters and numbers, the ones I saw had nothing painted on them at all. They were unmarked and out of place, and none of it added up, except for the fact that their position on the bridge provided a perfect shield from the incoming enemy rounds that were hailing down from the surrounding rooftops and balconies. In the heat of the battle, I simply sloughed it off and kept fighting. But days after the battle, going back to that same intersection, I tried to locate the overpass on which the strange AAV’s had been lined up in a steel column. To no avail I searched, no matter what direction I looked – north, south, east, west – the overpass simply wasn’t there.
The Marine’s who this happened to say it was just like 2 Kings 6:17 where Elisha was outnumbered and his servant was afraid so he prayed and it says…
The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Friends, if we were given eyes to see the angelic host of God Most High, it’d simultaneously be both a terrible and wonderful sight.
You may not even believe in that kind of stuff – but you couldn’t convince these soldiers otherwise. They prayed for God’s protection and saw irrefutable evidence of it. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to share these stories with you – if nothing else – to give you more reason to pray for our troops every day. The chaplain who recounted those stories went on to write:
When the faithful fight the spiritual battle in prayer, those shouldering the burden of combat are given the strength to prevail. This was the awesome story of the home front during our war in Iraq. Prayer was the unseen force behind every victory, whether tactical or spiritual, that we experienced.
So we need to pray. But that’s actually just a side point…
I’m starting here with a couple recent awe inspiring angel appearances because I want to say this … if the sight of his angels strikes fear in the hearts of armed soldiers, how much more terrible and wonderful is he?? If God were to appear right here right now, don’t think for a moment you’d walk up and pet him – he’s no tame lion. We need to be careful at Christmas that we don’t overdo this baby Jesus – meek and mild idea.
My message today is aimed at getting us to rethink our view of God. Is he just a gentle lamb who lays down his life for the world – or, is he the lion of the tribe of Judah – so ferocious and unapproachable he had to approach us?? The Bible says “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” (Heb 10:31) Yes, Jesus was gentle… but don’t just settle on that thought and build your idea of God around it. He was so much more.
This is more of an Easter passage than a Christmas passage but it’s the same Jesus – in John 18:5-6 when the soldiers came into the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest him, they first asked if he was indeed Jesus of Nazareth. Verse six says the moment “Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” The actual word there is lurched backward as one thrown back.
Maybe you didn’t even know that happened. Are you wondering why? I believe they saw beyond his humanity into his divinity. I believe they caught a glimpse of what I’m calling today the dangerous side of God. Friends,
1) The dangerous side of God is terrible to behold!
Read sometime about what it was like for Moses going up the fiery mountain to get the Ten Commandments.
Those with a fresh revelation of the God behind those stone tablets would make sure they are never removed from the halls of our public buildings. The OT is filled with stories of what happens to those who merely touched the ark of the Covenant – the symbol of his dwelling in their midst. Most weekends around here I’m making sure we understand how wonderful he is, but today will be more a refresher course on his dangerous side. This is the side of God that is powerfully captured in this new NARNIA movie which is so faithful to the book.
In his book, THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, C.S. Lewis decided to portray the Christ figure in his story as the lion Aslan. He later wrote that he depicted Jesus as a lion because, as he was writing this powerful story of redemption, he kept dreaming about lions. In one of the early chapters of the book, the children are with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and they are asking questions about Aslan – at first they thought he was a man.
But Mr. Beaver said sternly – No, Aslan is a lion. Susan said , “Ooh, is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” “I’m longing to see him,” said Peter.
Later in the book we read, “he’s not a tame lion.” In the fourth book, Prince Caspian there is an entire chapter called “The Lion Roars.” Again children are encountering the lion…
“Hush! Said the other four, for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them, looking so majestic that they felt as good as anyone can who feels afraid, and as afraid as anyone who feels safe.”
For me and many others, these are the key parts of the book as Lewis connects his story to the story of the Bible. But, don’t hear me saying that God is like Aslan. What Lewis wanted us to see what that Aslan was like God – simultaneously terrible and wonderful.
Everything about God is both terrible and wonderful. Everything about the Christian life is both terrible and wonderful – fasting is terrible and wonderful – giving is terrible and wonderful – praying is terrible and wonderful – loving others and serving is both terrible and wonderful. The cross is both terrible and wonderful. Christmas is both terrible and wonderful.
The Bible says Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. I know the birth of Jesus and the manger makes us feel warm and safe. And his birth was good, but it was anything but safe. It cost the Bethlehem mothers their babies. It cost Mary her own plans for her family and her life. It cost Joseph his reputation. It cost the wise men a long journey and expensive gifts. Some even say it cost the shepherds their jobs since his life put an end to the need for sacrificial lambs.
This lamb slain for the sin of the world was more of a lion-like lamb. This is what you see of Jesus is the Book of Revelation – a perplexing combination of the Suffering One and the Conquering One. These images of the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah are set right alongside these images of him being the Lamb that was slain. And our view of God is only accurate if each aspect is integrated – he’s wonderful and terrible.
So I really have two points today 1) The dangerous side of God is terrible to behold and
2) The good side of God is wonderful!
He’s loves, he forgives, he heals, he has our best in mind. He accepts, embraces, is tender, gentle… he has soft spot for kids and women and poor people and people who are in pain. Some days here in the pulpit, I focus more on the good side of God probably because many think he’s just bad and mad. He’s neither. But emphasizing his good side all the time can leave us with a skewed view.
There’s a time and place for us to revisit his dangerous side. I’ve been reading the lion-like verses all week. The book of Job brings up the lion imagery by referring to the roar of God’s voice (37:1-5). Hos. 11:10 says “they will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.” If his children tremble, how much more his enemies?
Sometimes when I talk about God’s dangerous side, people say “I don’t want a god who makes me afraid.” And to that I say “Then you’ll not have a god mighty enough to make evil back down.” God is not a tame kitten. Have you ever heard someone say, “Well I just can’t believe in a God who would condemn anyone to hell or allow an infant to be taken from his mother.” Or, “My God is a God of Love who accepts everyone and wants people to be happy.”
The way they say “my God” makes it sound like their God is more of a trained kitten on a leash than a fearsome lion. God is not some cosmic pushover who tolerates our sin and indulges our every whim. Scripture rather, reveals his dangerous side.
I looked up the word “lion” in my DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL SYMBOLISM, listen to what it says;
The Israelites knew the lion as a ruthless, almost unstoppable killer, taking from the flock at will. Its roar, audible for miles, spread its fear abroad. Most scripture references to the lion have to do with its voice – “the lion has roared; who will not fear?” God employed them as agents in punishments. The mention of their teeth, paw or mouth summoned all the fears they provoked. The mouth of the lion is a predicament from which escape seems hopeless. Lion in the Old Testament evokes ferocity, boldness, stealth, savagery, ruthlessness, destructive power and irresistible strength. They become royal symbols of the kings absolute power. “The dread wrath of the King is like the growling of the lion.” Proverbs 20:2
If Jesus was just a gentle lamb, God would have left out all this about how he is like the lion.
Usually I try to root my messages in one passage of scripture. This week it was hard because there were scores of scriptures from which to choose. But I did settle on one that captured both the dangerous side of God and his good side.
Luke 12:4-7 first point us to his dangerous side;
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. [Then this shifts into God’s good side…] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Do you see both sides?
I’ve learned something after following the Lord for over twenty years. As God has revealed himself to me, and as I’ve grown closer to him, his lion-like side hasn’t faded away. Maybe the hell-fire, lion-like stuff was what first woke you up and brought you to repentance and then you experienced the lamb-like love of heaven. Maybe it was the other way around – the lamb-like love was what initially won you over. My point is both are there and neither fade as we come to behold a Biblical revelation of him.
We are often so hungry for revival, but do we realize that when revival has hit the various cities and regions of the earth, people aren’t typically happy and clappy – that isn’t to say the joy of the Lord doesn’t come. I’m saying as the presence of God descends on a crowd, eyewitnesses write about there being a strong sense of the weight of sin. Charles Finney spoke of a “holiness zone” around some of his meetings. Even before arriving at the meetings, the people on boats coming into the harbor would fall to their knees, tremble, repent, confess sin and plead for mercy. The roar of the Lord is a righteous roar!
Again, God is not some cosmic pushover who tolerates our sin and indulges our every whim. Even after we are forgiven and choose to follow him, we need to tell folks up front– his demands are extreme. Look at Mt. 16:24 and see if the path we are invited to take sounds safe;
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
How safe does that sound? Or check out Hebrews 11:32ff;
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson… who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouth of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in cases and holes in the ground…
I could go on… does this sound safe to you?
There is another new movie that will be coming out on January 20, 2006 that I encourage you all to go see – The End of the Spear. It’s based on the classic Elizabeth Elliot book – Through Gates of Splendor which is about these five young missionaries from Wheaton College who go to the jungles of Ecuador to share the gospel with a tribe known to kill all outsiders. They were advised to take a gun and not just their Bibles. They refused saying, “They aren’t ready for heaven, we are!!” All five were killed - it’s a powerful story that ends with the tribe being converted.!!! Friends, the call is not safe, but it’s good!!
In the sixth book of the NARNIA series, THE SILVER CHAIR, there is a brief exchange between a thirsty little girl and Aslan the lion. Actually, Aslan is lying between her and the stream. Let me read that part…
Though the sight of the water made her feel ten times thirstier than before, she didn’t rush forward and drink. She stood as still as if she had been turned into stone, with her mouth wide open. And she had a very good reason; just on this side of the stream lay the lion… she knew at once it had seen her, for its eyes looked straight into hers… She thought…“If I run away, it’ll be after me in a moment… and if I go on, I shall run straight into its mouth.”
The lion spoke first saying “if you are thirsty, you may drink.” But she hesitated and the lion said again; “if you are thirsty you may drink.” After waiting some more her answer was – “will you promise not to do anything to me if I do come?” The lion said, “I make no promise.”
“Do you eat girls?” she said. “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. I just said it. “I daren’t come and drink” said the girl, to which the lion replied, “then you will die of thirst.” “O dear” was her response, “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.” “There is no other stream,” said the lion.
I love how Aslan ignored her desire for safety. Friends, God’s invitation today is for you to come to him for life and living water. He makes no promise that following him is safe, only that he’s good. Psalm 145 says “the Lord is good to everyone, but he destroys the wicked.” Do you see it? He’s the lion and the lamb. You can walk away from him today and seek out another stream, but his Word is clear – there is no other stream.
One day every knee in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, will bow before his Lordship and Majesty. If you are thirsty today and you want to approach him, pray this prayer…
Lord Jesus, I bow before you today in reverent awe. In you holy presence, my pride melts. I tremble and sweat. Were it not for your mercy, I’d be consumed. Were it not for your love, I’d be lost. Were it not for your goodness, badness would overtake me. You are good and I thirst. I confess you are the only stream, my only stream. I confess there no is other provision for the forgiveness of sin other than your sacrificial provision on the Cross. My hope is in your resurrection and in your life. Roar over my life. May my enemies scatter. I’m okay with your extreme demands. Above all else, you are my King. Reign in my life.
