Up Against The World Series

When Laura and I visited Florence, Italy, among the many treasures of art we saw was Michelangelo’s David, located in the Galleria dell’Accademia. Leading up to the David statue is a long hallway, where on both sides stand a group statues that have been named “the prisoners”. They appear unfinished and imperfect, though some art scholars believe Michelangelo intended them to remain this way. They look like men struggling to tear themselves out of the rock. They’re an accurate depiction of Christians in the world, trying to break out of our fallenness. Jesus alone can free us from the bondage of sin; without Him, we might as well be bound in stone.

The Apostle John cautions, “Don’t be surprised if the world hates you” (I Jn 3:13). I recall while stationed in Korea, a Warrant Officer who (like many) was cheating on his wife. I never said a word to him about this; I wasn’t a “moral policeman”. I simply tried to model a Christian lifestyle. Whenever he saw me, and the cross on my uniform, he was reminded of his infidelity; so one day in the Officers Club, he walked over to me and said, “Chaplain, I hate you,” then walked away.

Why doesn’t God deliver us from all this strife? Why couldn’t He take us out of the world? Moses, Elijah and Jonah all asked God to take them home, but God’s answer was “no”, and for had good reason. The reason is in verse 18, “I have sent them into the world.” We are here to experience this world’s suffering and to show how Christ can transform sorrow into the fullness of joy. We are here to live the Good News and to introduce our lost world to Christ.

We’re also left here because God is working a process of spiritual growth within us, preparing us for Heaven. Our response to the world reveals the genuineness of our faith.

As if the world isn’t bad enough, we have another adversary—Satan. Jesus prays in verse 15 that we be protected from “the evil one.” The devil is like a roaring lion, looking for victims to devour (I Pet 5:8). He attacks us through pride, pleasure, fear, self-doubt, false teaching, greed, and disunity. We resist him by putting on God’s armor. When I deployed to Iraq, I was issued TA-50, equipment to survive on the desert battlefield. We wage warfare every day; life is an on-going conflict, but we have the protective armor of faith; we are “more than conquerors” through Christ our Lord.

In His “Great Commission” (Mt 28:19) Jesus commands us to “go into all the world” with the Gospel. The church has been set in the theater of conflict. We’re ambassadors to the world, and must strive to live unlike the world if we hope to win the world for Christ. We represent Christ on earth, and He’s representing us in Heaven. He continues to pray for us that we will be effective in our mission.

Throughout my military career I counseled a lot of soldiers who didn’t like the Army and couldn’t wait to get out. They were counting the days to their discharge; they had “short-timer calendars” -and attitudes! One day we’ll get to leave this world, but until then we have to accept our situation and learn to deal with what is often an unpleasant place. It’s normal for us to feel homesick for our true home. One day our trials will be over…but in the meantime, we’ve got work to do!