Just recently in BSF we read a chapter of Leviticus that has an especially graphic portrayal of the wrath of God The Father. Talking about the punishment for disobedience He says:
"If in spite of this if you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile towards me, then in my anger I will be hostile towards you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you." Leviticus 26:27-30
At the first reading of this I was taken aback. The sure gravity of what He says is astounding. Dead bodies piling up on altars, cannibalism of sons and daughters; a state of complete chaos.
Yet this is out of context. The Lord has already given the Israelites 4 chances, by this point, to repent. Only when their evil has continually persisted and their hearts, like that of Pharaoh in Exodus, have become hopelessly calloused does The Lord resort to such extreme measures.
But still, how do we as Christians today parallel this sort of brutality with the words of Jesus telling us to resort from violence altogether?
Well let me tell you what Jesus told me.
At my school, there are a number of things I dread. I dread going to English and having to sit at a table of boys who constantly persist in conversation about drugs, sex, and the ways they are going to get out of school. I dread my teacher Mr Helm becoming frustrated and acting out in his frustration. I dread the awkward standoffs between Mr Helm and the class. I dread being in the locker room during soccer. I dread hearing the conversations about graphic events and thoughts prevailing in the minds of my teammates. I dread the constant outpouring of vulgar language. I dread interaction with my Coach, Mr Aldrich. I dread being the target of his anger and hypocrisy. I dread my Music Theory teacher Mr Feris. I dread being the object of his impatience and sarcasm. I dread being a witness to sexually promiscuous displays of affection in the hall ways of my school.
There are a lot of things in my school I wish I never had to be in contact with. My school is permeated with darkness, sin, and evil. And being around such evil weighs heavy on my soul and exhausts my physical body. If it were up to me, I would flee from every situation where evil is present and retreat to the sanctity of isolation.
But thank goodness I am not in control. Thank goodness Jesus, who is so infinitely wiser, has control over my life.
Instead of seeing a situation of potential threat, He sees a situation of opportunity for movement of His Spirit. Where I tend only to see bad influence, He sees the potential for Spiritual growth.
"Lord give me your eyes so I can see everything I keep missing. Give me your love for humanity. Give me your arms for the broken-hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach, Give me you heart for the ones forgotten. Give me your eyes so I can see."
There is a reason for everything that happens in this life. Jesus has a purpose for placing me in each of the classes I am in and with each of the people I am with. He knows that it is for my good.
"You make all things work together for my good."
My battle, our battle, is not against flesh and blood, not against people, it is against the rulers and authorities that reign supreme in this dark world. The war is over hearts, the enemy is evil. The enemy is sin; Babylon herself.
"Finally, be strong in The Lord and in His power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." Ephesians 6:10-13
Jesus repeatedly has been telling me, 'Marcus, you have a warriors heart.' I was told first at a Healing Rooms prayer session, I was told again by my small group leader Mr Ronk at Winter Camp, and then I learned the meaning of my own name; Marcus means Warlike. So what is Jesus trying to tell me? I believe I have finally begun to understand.
He wants me to realize that my battle as a man of God is against the evil in this world, and just like God The Father, when it comes to evil, there is absolutely no level of toleration. Like Him, I must learn to abhor evil in all forms, and fight against it with all the power has a gifted me as a servant of His Kingdom.
The Lord is a God of Wrath because He hates evil, but He is a God of mercy because He loves people. At every turn He offers the chance for repentance:
"But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers-their treachery against me and their hostility towards me, which has made me hostile towards them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies-then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and my covenant with Isaac, and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land." - Leviticus 26:40-42
And as his Warrior I must do the same.
Hate evil. Love people.
Resist Satan and He will flee from you. Nothing can stand against a warrior clothed in the Armor of Christ wielding the Sword of His Spirit.
Well I certainly share your distaste for "the world". But I must confess that my plan is to "avoid" those things, places, and people that revel in evil things - I look the other way and think "I'll pray for them". I need to change my heart for compassion, see those who are lost, as Jesus sees those who are lost. I do see and feel their pain, especially while praying for them, but I start thinking how "I" can fix it, instead of how I AM can fix it! I need to work more on being a vessel.
ReplyDeleteMarcus, there are a couple folks I would like to send this blog link to - how can I do that? Do I need to send them your email address? It's a couple of BSF men that post similar scripture on facebook. Maybe you can ask them yourself. Love you!