Fighting the Wrong Battle - Day 199 Month 7-17 Week 29-3
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
1 Samuel 20:30-21:15, Proverbs 8:22-36, Ezekiel 5, Acts 26
Fighting the Wrong Battle
It’s difficult. It’s difficult to keep fighting a losing battle. Living itself is a battle that we fight, though physical death eventually comes to us all. As I look around our property, I see that weeds are a losing battle as well. We can dig them up and remove every root, only to have another weed appear in its place. Sylvia is constantly laying cardboard and old newspapers in her gardens and covering them with mulch to keep the weeds under control. Weeds are something that can be managed, but they can never be completely eliminated.
There are several wars taking place around the world, and we assume that eventually one country will be defeated and another will prevail. More likely, a compromise will be reached and both sides will claim victory, even though very little has been accomplished and many lives have been lost.
Jesus asked Paul on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14b). Paul quoted those words to King Agrippa as he explained why he became a follower of Jesus.
In war and weeds, we may think we have won small victories, but Saul was fighting a battle he could never win because he was fighting against his Creator. He was fighting God. God had a plan, and Paul did not realize that he was opposing the very God he believed he was serving.
There are many people who believe they are fighting for God without realizing that they are actually resisting Him. Others believe there is no God at all or dismiss faith as merely religion, not recognizing that they have created a religion of their own by serving the god of self.
Eventually, everyone comes face to face with the living God. Sometimes it happens as it did for Paul, when God stops a person in their tracks and leaves no doubt that He is there. Sometimes it is far more subtle, and only with time do people realize that God has been reaching out to them. Others recognize God’s presence and stubbornly reject Him anyway. One day, however, we will all stand before God, and there will be no denying Him. Scripture teaches that those who reject Him will face judgment.
I believe we all have the opportunity to turn to Him. I turned to Him at the age of eleven. Sylvia turned to Him at the age of thirty eight. I even know someone who turned to Him on their deathbed. I believe the Holy Spirit continues to call to us, but none of us knows how long we can ignore that call before our hearts become hardened to it. If you sense that God is drawing you, I encourage you to listen. Be open to the life He offers and accept His gift of entry into His kingdom. Life will not necessarily become easier, but your outlook and purpose can change for the better, and you may begin to see the world through the eyes of Jesus.
If you sense God pulling at your heart but do not know what to do next, I encourage you to email me. As always, my email address is just below.
Have a great day!
Steve
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