16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
We read the words. They speak to our heart. We determine this time will be different, this time we will deny ourselves, take up our cross and actually follow Jesus.
We stand on a hill and look longingly to the hill on the other side of the valley. We know once we get there we will be victorious. But we see the army of darkness ready for battle standing where we need to be. As part of the army of GOD we know in our mind that the battle is the Lord's. Talk among the brethren is optimistic and all are ready for battle.
But then.....
From the darkness a giant emerges. His very presence sends chills down the spine of even the experienced warriors among us. Defiantly he challenges the entire army of light. Send our very best, our champion, against him one on one.
Victory is within sight. All that stands between victory and defeat is one man. Yet an entire army is immobilized by his words. No one will accept his challenge. Day after day this defiant giant curses and mocks the church and christianity. His reputation as a destroyer, his cunning craftiness in battle, his merciless, cruel fighting style has left everyone who has ever stood up to him either dead or wounded.
Among the brethren is much talk as they try to figure out how to get to the other side without facing the giant. Others decide that perhaps where they are is close enough. Still others drown out his daily challenge with praise and worship as they wait for GOD to send a champion. And secretly hope that they are not the one GOD sends.
One day a young lad comes along. Not even a warrior. He hears the words of the giant. With great anticipation he watches to see who will answer the challenge. No one moves! He is astonished, bewildered. Why would no one not go into the valley of the shadow of death to face the blasphemer? Why does an entire army act victorious when they refuse to face the one thing keeping them from real victory?
As the lad speaks the more experienced warriors scold him. Who is this little one with the big mouth? They tell him to get real, to look at the obvious. But this boy insists that the giant be quieted. He will go face the giant.
Word gets around about the "sacrifice" about to be made. A young man with more "faith" than brains is going out to face the giant. Some try to equip him with what he will need. But what they give him is cumbersome and ill-fitting. Instead, he takes a simple sling and a few stones. The most faithful pray that his death will be quick.
Is There Not A Cause?
Is there not one
who will challenge me?
Is there not one
who will come from their hiding?
I see your bibles
and your ornaments
I hear your words
but I see your life
Where is the champion
of righteousness?
Where is one
who will stand against me?
I see your fear
and watch you run
I see you hide
behind your light
Is there not one
who is willing to die?
Is there not one
who I can crucify?
I hate who you are
and who you serve
I have destroyed all
who have answered my call
Why do I bother with you
meaningless christians?
Why don't I accept that not one
really means what they say?
Is there not a cause?
Why do you flee?
Hear what he says
about the One we love
Yes, I am a child
Yes, you have been
a warrior for many years
Will you accept this challenge?
Why are you so angry with me?
What did I say wrong?
Is there not a cause?
I will go
I will silence this giant
Why do so many know what to do?
And yet not do what they know?
Wonderful advice,
beautiful strategies
But I have not time
to learn how to fight
Who is this one
who challenges my Love?
Who is this one
who puts fear in all?
My GOD will deliver
My GOD will win
I will fight you
HA!!! _ YOU???
Come, you puny, weak one
Is this the best GOD has?
I will rip you apart
Expose your heart and soul
All will see what becomes of the fool
who dares to challenge me
A hurting teen holds a bottle
of pills and contemplates
A needle sets "free"
from the unending pain
A lonely wife responds
to a stranger's invitation
A little child looks for food
while parents are too high
An inmate is trapped
by hatred and violence
The battlefield is covered
with the remains of ruined lives
And the laughter
of this champion of darkness
Armed with nothing but the Word and faith
I approach this vile creature
I reach into my heart
and lay hold of a truth
Truth solid as rock
and faith to launch it
Silence
Laughter stops
Advice from experts stops
Silence
A bewildered look
Blood flowing from his forehead
This enemy of righteousness
This champion of darkness falls
Wounded at your feet
lies the enemy of all you love
Quickly you take his large sword
and end the tyranny
Removing his helmet
you lift his severed head high
Only then do you recognize
the old creature
.....peace.....
Too often the battleground has become a playground as the enemy lulls the unexpecting into playing christianity where we get to make the rules. Too late the unexpecting lie lifeless on the battlefield.
No one ever follows Jesus without facing the giant of the "unholy trinity" of sin, self and satan. The kingdom of darkness will beat you down, discourage you, overwhelm you, without mercy or restraint. Circumstances will go against you, life will be unfair, health will fail and money, too. Sin will entice, lure, draw you from what you know is right.
You will be wounded but GOD will restore your health.
You will fail but GOD will not.
You will die and finally begin to live.
And you will finally realize that the years the locust have eaten GOD has restored. Your life may have been wasted by the destroyer but GOD still resurrects those who die to self and become alive to Him.
Funny, how the one thing we need the most is the one thing we avoid the most.
.....peace.....
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