Posted on August 4, 2021 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters
“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin”
Isaiah 30:1 (NKJV)
Not that this may be anything new to you but “It’s a jungle out there!” We’ve got open rebellion against God that’s been going on for thousands of years and to make things worse we got everything that isn’t of God rebelling against everything that isn’t of God. It would seem that all the human race knows how to do well is to be in a constant state of rebellion and they are looking for new recruits every day. Sometimes I wonder why YHVH doesn’t just drop an asteroid on us all and be done with the whole matter. But is this what God really wants? Hmmm…
We also got folks out there who are proudly declaring that their citizenship isn’t of this world, therefore they ain’t gotta put up with none of the world’s shenanigans. After all, it’s those people whose moral compass points south and they “do what is right in their own eyes”, so we ain’t gotta listen to them. Well, here’s a question for you…is that what Jesus told you to do? I sorta remember something in Luke’s Gospel about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and rendering to God what is God’s. In short, I’m pretty sure God isn’t too pleased with rebellion…period!
So, this puts me in quite the predicament. In my youth, teachers weren’t my parents so why obey them? While I was in the Army, I had major issues with the bars on the collars. When I got into the work force, I rebelled, because I thought it was funny. When I first came to Christ, I kicked at the goads, because words like surrender, submission and authority got my Irish up. Even now I apparently disobey my wife because I can’t stay outta the kitchen while she is in there cleaning up after me. Sad, but true.
Now some of you would be correct in pointing out what we read in the Book Revelation, chapter 18, and say this world has truly become Babylon the Great. I won’t disagree with you at all, however, ya can’t say Babylon without saying Daniel. Granted, Daniel and his three friends may have given honor to and were loyal to Nebuchadnezzar the kooky king of Babylon, but it was when King Nebbie crossed over into violating God’s number rule against idolatry that Daniel made his stand and was willing to take whatever punishment King Nebbie threw at him. This was truly walking the tightrope of obedience, wasn’t it? So, what do we do?
The first thing we need to do is wrap our heads around the notion that obedience to authority produces something that God wants us to have. So, what’s that you ask? I’ll let John O. Reid, from the Berean Call answer this..
“What does obedience to authority produce? Harmony, accord, agreement, order, peace and above all the character of submission to law that God wants to perfect in each of us. God has seen to it that we all have authority, so that we might learn how to handle it and learn to respect it. Additionally, He has also given us many opportunities to come under authority, so that we might learn to submit and be governed. When we learn these lessons, we can be taught and become of greater use to God.”
When you put it like that, child of The Most-High, you should understand that God is giving us a precious gift. I have been given the authority to convey God’s Word through these Freedom Fighters that you read. If I didn’t or couldn’t handle this properly you wouldn’t be reading this today and I’ll say this…isn’t easy to rebel against authority when you haven’t been given any authority in the first place?
The apostle Paul gives us a good insight on how to walk that tightrope of obedience in Romans 13:1-7. Although he may have been directing these seven verses to the Christians that were in Rome or even the Roman Empire in general, we still have to look at it today as the way to be. After all, Christianity was designed to spread. If Jesus Christ was willing to subjugated to death on a cross for your disobedience, who are we to sneer at a stop sign when no traffic is around?
Yes, the world is in chaos right now and always has been (you can thank Adam and Eve for that). And yes, you are free in Christ Jesus, “But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13b) This has been a tough lesson for me to learn, somethings are deeply engrained. But the cool part in this is, be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a husband, a father, has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net
Think About This: “If I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstance of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God.” – Oswald Chambers
The Daily Bible Reading: Reflection | You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. -1 John 2:10-11
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