In a crisis we change our behaviour. A crisis can bring out the best or the worst in us. Some people are selfish and will disobey authority for their own pleasure or personal gain. Others are altruistic, selfless and self-sacrificing.
There are many conflicts raging in our world today. Perhaps you are affected. If not, can you imagine how you would respond to having an enemy intent on harming you?
It’s shocking to read in the Bible that we are naturally “enemies” of God! How can this be? Of course, we can never be a threat to God, because He is the One who gives us life. Nor can we limit His power and knowledge, because He knows everything and nothing is too hard for Him. But we are, by natural instinct, opponents of God, “not on the same side”, disobedient. This would seem like a desperate predicament. We are powerless against Him.
You… once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds (Colossians 1:21).
This is talking about believers who have been transformed by their faith in Jesus Christ. They were enemies of God, but are now on God’s side. And in this honoured position they are guaranteed the love of Jesus (Romans 8:35–39).
This is all possible because of the ultimate act of selflessness. Jesus gave up his life on the cross to reconcile us to God
(Romans 5:10). And this is the only way that we can be saved from our natural predicament.
We all have the common enemy of death. And because we all disobey God we all deserve to die. But God promises that one day even this enemy will be taken away:
The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26).
God has a plan for His people: those who believe Him and follow Jesus. In the meantime we have still to work at not being His enemies. We have to fight against our natural ungodly attitudes.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13) (see also 1 Timothy 6:12).
This sounds impossible, but God has promised success to those who really believe and truly try to do what He asks. And we have a guidebook for the wartime spirit we need: the Bible.
Anna Hart