Thursday, July 29, 2010

July 29, 2010

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?" James 4:4-5
There are not too many positive aspects about a war. Rush Limbaugh correctly states that the purpose of war is to "kill people and break things". And unfortunately, human history is marred by billions of people who have been killed by war and trillions of dollars of destruction done by people primarily motivated by greed, hatred, or lust for power.
What could possibly be positive about that?
War forces people to choose a side. People who are naturally reluctant to commit to anything are forced by war to choose a side. Especially if you join the battle. A soldier is clear about which side he is on. He wears a uniform and serves under a flag and fights side-by-side with others who have committed to that cause.
In these verses, James reminds you that God has chosen sides and when you become a follower of Christ you commit to God's Kingdom. God rightly expects you to be true to that cause.
Can you imagine a soldier who would try to serve on both sides of a battle? Think of what would happen to someone who would run to the middle of the two lines in the heat of a battle. What would happen? He would get shot from both sides! No one would do that!
You would call that soldier a traitor or a fool but God has another name for them - adulterer. Unfortunately, adultery does have as negative of a connotation as it once had, but I don't know too many people who want that label attached to them. Adultery is still destructive and no one wants to be on the wrong side of an adulterous relationship.
But when you flirt around with worldliness and chase after fleshly desires, you are committing adultery on God. You are putting Him on the painful side of the illicit affair. Is that something you really want to do?
Life is a war! Everyone is involved in a spiritual conflict due to the fact that we are spiritual people and everyone is born with an evil spiritual nature. You were born as an enemy of God. Only by a decisive spiritual commitment and through the grace of Jesus Christ can you break free from the Enemy and join forces with God. That decision alone is the means to inner peace, even in the midst of the battle!
Once that decision is made, God expects you to be true to that commitment. You march under His banner. You stand shoulder to shoulder with His people. You execute His plan and act on His orders.
Everyone serves someone! No one can serve two masters. You must be clear in your decision and true to your choice.
Have you made your choice? Are you serving with honor? Or are you hung up between enemy lines?