The World - At War
Romans 8:5-8 (ESV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
“I’m a good person, even if I don’t follow Jesus.” I open this devotional today with a heavy and humbled heart. Everywhere you look online today, you will see depictions of people at odds with one another. Wars between countries. Violence through political activism and protests. Even within the church…division and hate over secondary and tertiary issues and doctrines. Everywhere you look…there it is. People at odds with each other.
It is wearisome isn’t it? We seem to be in a state of constant strife and conflict. That opening statement lingers in my mind and heart. A dear friend of mine stated this to me in a simple discussion regarding people not going to worship on Sundays. It was a healthy and civil discussion. I always love these chats with him…but that statement that I have heard a hundred times before, stung and pained me.
As soon as it left his lips I thought immediately to our scripture for today. Paul wrote this to the church members in Rome who were facing serious persecution, wars, political turmoil, and disunity in the church. Doesn’t sound too different than what we are facing today does it? Well, that’s because it isn’t. “It is nothing new under the sun”, as my late mentor Reverand Gary Shields would tell me with a sadness in his eyes.
This Scripture is, in my most humble of opinions, the move sobering wake-up call for Christians. Especially verse 8. Every time I read it is almost like I hear a judge’s gavel drop and then all goes silent. There are 8 billion people on this Earth. And the vast majority of them do not know who Christ is. The vast majority, as verse 8 tells us, cannot please God. This means that the vast majority will face God on judgement day and it won’t go well for them.
”I’m a good person, even if I don’t follow Jesus.”….that quote is the heart song of The World of the Flesh. God bluntly tells us time and time again in Scripture that “None are good, not even one.” The culmination of belief in yourself as good…is to think of yourself as God.
When everyone is focused so fully on self-fulfillment and self-idolatry (let’s be real, that is what it is)…the state of the world we see around us now is the result. The World is very much, at war with God. This thought should have us in constant prayer for the hearts and souls of mankind to kneel in submission to that same Holy God that offers so much peace, mercy, love, and grace so freely. It should also call us to speak up more often to those who are against God, whether they know it or not. Speak the Gospel of Christ to them at each and every chance we get.
Yet, the world continues to wage its futile war against God. Clinging to the flesh instead of drinking of the Spirit. War will go on day after day as long as this is what occurs.
Yet, Christian, do not fear. We know who wins this war…
Soli Deo Gloria!!!!
