Cruise ships don't sail in to war zones. Tourists don't wear flak jackets, because rare is the threat of hostility in a friendly port of call. In contrast, warships sail into treacherous territory and stand at full alert in the most perilous waters. A cruise ship mentality would be a recipe for disaster.
The Christian life has rightly been compared to life on a warship in hostile territory. A cruise ship mentality, however, is all too often characteristic. Poolside pleasures, indulgent feasts, and carefree leisure beckon all the while the ship sails into treacherous waters.
The record of the Bible is replete with accounts of hostilities against the people of God. Numerous Old Testament accounts detail unprovoked aggression against God's people dwelling in safety in their cities. One such account involved King Hezekiah, a righteous ruler, whose domain was threatened by aggression at the hands of the powerful Assyrian ruler, Sennacherib. In the face of this perilous threat, King Hezekiah, a man of unswerving faith and devotion to the most High God, declared:
"Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
More often than not, the battles the people of God face seem hopelessly lopsided. We are the Davids standing before towering Goliaths with a few stones and a sling, while our opponents are armed to the teeth with formidable offensive and defensive weapons. Fear and dismay come easily as strength and resolve melt away in the face of our enemies. But, Hezekiah's call reverberates down through the ages to us today in our battles as he encourages us to "not fear or be dismayed because ... the one with us is greater than the one with him". Our unseen warrior tips the balance heavily in our favor; the Lord God Yahweh towers far above our Goliaths and is no match for even our most formidable foe.
Perspective on the battle is everything, because all is not as it appears on the surface. "Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Another battle at another place and time had this in common with all battles involving God's people: there is more to the battle than meets the eye.
My hope for all God's people today is that life might be as pleasant as a cruise ship experience, but reality tells me that the comparison to a warship in hostile waters is more accurate. As such, be prepared with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17), and stand in the confidence that your unseen warrior is present and prepared to provide overwhelming victory.
Steve
The Christian life has rightly been compared to life on a warship in hostile territory. A cruise ship mentality, however, is all too often characteristic. Poolside pleasures, indulgent feasts, and carefree leisure beckon all the while the ship sails into treacherous waters.
The record of the Bible is replete with accounts of hostilities against the people of God. Numerous Old Testament accounts detail unprovoked aggression against God's people dwelling in safety in their cities. One such account involved King Hezekiah, a righteous ruler, whose domain was threatened by aggression at the hands of the powerful Assyrian ruler, Sennacherib. In the face of this perilous threat, King Hezekiah, a man of unswerving faith and devotion to the most High God, declared:
"Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (2 Chronicles 32:7-8)
More often than not, the battles the people of God face seem hopelessly lopsided. We are the Davids standing before towering Goliaths with a few stones and a sling, while our opponents are armed to the teeth with formidable offensive and defensive weapons. Fear and dismay come easily as strength and resolve melt away in the face of our enemies. But, Hezekiah's call reverberates down through the ages to us today in our battles as he encourages us to "not fear or be dismayed because ... the one with us is greater than the one with him". Our unseen warrior tips the balance heavily in our favor; the Lord God Yahweh towers far above our Goliaths and is no match for even our most formidable foe.
Perspective on the battle is everything, because all is not as it appears on the surface. "Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Another battle at another place and time had this in common with all battles involving God's people: there is more to the battle than meets the eye.
My hope for all God's people today is that life might be as pleasant as a cruise ship experience, but reality tells me that the comparison to a warship in hostile waters is more accurate. As such, be prepared with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17), and stand in the confidence that your unseen warrior is present and prepared to provide overwhelming victory.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:48 AM
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