War!

A day that will "live in infamy"--December 7, 1942, the day that the Empire of Japan bombed the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Such an act was unmistakeable. This was war!

September 11, 2001--the day in my lifetime that I have vivid memories of that will also "live in infamy." It was a declaration of a different type of war, and really a war that had been ongoing and remains ongoing.

In war, there is very little middle-ground. Oh sure, there will always be countries who remain "neutral," even in a "World" war that may directly affect them. We get the phrase, "I'm Switzerland here," during conflicts as a testament to determined neutrality.

There are times, however, when taking a stand, and taking a side, becomes necessary. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 12. Take a look, from The Message, at Verse 30: "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse."

The acts and the teachings of Jesus in Matthew very much revolve around the Kingdom of God. As such, Jesus's very living presence in the world was an invasion, a frontal attack on the enemy, Satan, on his "home turf." His weapons were very non-conventional:

• Teaching people
• Healing people
• Casting out demons
• Decreeing justice and hope.

Where people stumbled in the ignorance of Satan's devising, Jesus taught the truth, lifting the veil of ignorance. Where people suffered under the results of sin--sickness, injustice, hopelessness--Jesus fought with healing and decreeing justice, giving hope where there was none. Where Satan controlled people, inhabiting and torturing them, Jesus cast him and his legions out, freeing them from unimaginable oppression.

This was His Father's will. "I've placed my Spirit on him; he'll decree justice to the nations... Before you know it, his justice will triumph; the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers" (from verses 15-21).

When you choose the side of Jesus--and remember, being a non-combatant is not an option--he even calls you family. "Obedience is thicker than blood," he says in verse 50.

Christ has declared war on the enemy of souls. He calls on us to join his side, to even fight with him. Here's the good news: The enemy may still fight, but he is defeated. Even a dead snake can bite you, but... he's dead! You can only be bitten by a dead snake if you put yourself under his nose.

Christ teaches us... do the will of the Father. Teach people of the character of our God of love and His desire to have us in His family. Extend the touch of Jesus, believing that He works through us as we do this. Speak love, hope, and justice into someone's life and do what you can to deliver these things. 

The defeated enemy fights and wants you to share in his defeat. The victor fights and wants you in His eternal family. Seems like the choice is clear.