It’s Friday…Then Things Get Ugly

Our world is broken. People hate and kill one another. It has been the way from the beginning. Cain was jealous of his brother Abel, and his jealousy turned to hatred, and his hatred turned violent, and he killed him. The tradition was been carried on by Joseph’s brothers, Pharaoh’s soldiers, Herod’s infanticide, rabid Jews and Romans who hated the incarnate God and His followers, and on and on. People are still being murdered for claiming Jesus and exalting His Name above all names. And we shouldn’t be surprised at all when that happens.

Why the enmity? If we go back to the Garden of Eden, we’ll see how the serpent and the seed of God’s children have been at odds since day one. There is a cosmic warfare raging, and we’re in the middle of it. Now that Jesus Christ has defeated death and raised all who believe in Him to unspeakable heights, the enemy’s sense of vengeance runs deeper than ever. We were born into that bad environment (Ephesians 2:1-3), but we have been delivered. And there is no halfway house. We chose sides. And that decision didn’t go unnoticed in the shadows of this world.

But it’s a strange phenomenon that the world doesn’t believe it is at enmity with God. Scripture is emphatic about its hatred (James 4:4 for example), but our culture thinks that tolerance for the possibility of a Creator is the same as friendship with Him. The truth of its hatred only comes out when His Lordship is asserted, never before. We think God’s people are at peace with an unbelieving society until His Kingdom and Righteousness is preached. Then Things Get Ugly, and we’re surprised.

“Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13)

Let’s abandon the illusion that we can be friends with the world and friends with God simultaneously. That’s a fantasy that is never supported in Scripture. We can have a decent reputation, we can serve humbly and admirably in our society, and we can earn the respect of many. But it is superficial respect. Let’s not be taken in by it; let’s take it with a grain of salt. A mere mention of Jesus could forfeit all the acceptance you think you earned. 

Let’s never give the world’s esteem much effort, and let’s cling instead to the Lord we’ve chosen and His surpassing worth He has placed upon us. Ultimately, only His opinion matters.

Have a pleasant weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who live to reveal His character in their words and actions because He is worthy and it is worth it.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)