Revelation 3:14-16--Choose Your Team
Unconsciously, I think many believers (and possibly
unbelievers, too) view life as demonstrated by this chart. We agree
that God has a realm, or kingdom. We agree that Satan has a realm,
or kingdom. Then, we see ourselves as being in a separate realm
somewhere in between the two power houses.
The Scriptures provide us an understanding of the
eternal and ongoing purposes of both God’s kingdom and Satan’s
kingdom. Most believers are most comfortable staying outside of the
two realms. For instance, if we wanted to identify with God’s side,
we see that as requiring a sacrifice of our individual desires and
needs. While in our hearts we may have a desire to be sold out to
God’s agenda, many of us hold back from making that leap. After all,
we don’t want to look like fanatics or a radical Jesus follower.
What would our relatives, our friends or co-workers think? What if
God calls us to the mission field, or asks us to give up a job to go
into a fulltime ministry? No, we’d rather stay comfortable just
where we’re at so that we don’t get accused of being too
“religious.”
On the other hand, we would deny giving any support
or allegiance toward Satan’s realm. We’re believers, after all, so
we surely can’t be willing to identify with him. That would be
disloyal to Christ. Besides, Satan stands for everything that’s evil
and ugly, and in our hearts we don’t support that.
The “middle” realm, which represents “our little
corner of the world,” epitomizes the goals and American dream we all
wish to achieve. Most of us were brought up in families that had
similar goals; therefore, we tend to strive to replicate the same
lifestyle. After all, it’s what we know and what we’re familiar
with. In themselves, most of the activities, interests and hobbies
in which we’re involved are generally good things. The list of
purposes includes many of the goals and activities that fill our
lives and on which we spend our energy and time. Unfortunately,
because of societal influences, we can be tempted to compromise our
standards and let down our moral walls. Without giving too much
thought about our actions, we fail to grasp, or even care, whether
some of our activities become displeasing to the Lord, and so we
move through life focused on what we enjoy.
This chart is a good visual of the Laodicean church.
About that church the Lord said, “I’d rather you be hot or cold than
lukewarm.” Obviously, God’s side represents the “hot,” and Satan’s
side represents the “cold.” Our realm represents the lukewarmness
that God so despises. The normal Laodicean lifestyle is so offensive
to the Lord, He’d just as soon spit us out of His mouth than
tolerate our complacency, our indifference and our mediocre
Christianity. If we could hear His voice, He’d probably be yelling
at us to “GET OFF THE BENCH AND GET IN THE GAME!”
That said, if we look at life as if it were a game,
there’s a major flaw in our thinking. The diagram depicts three
teams, and as we all know, most major sporting events involve only
two teams on the playing field. Our thinking that we can remain
neutral in the spiritual “game” and not commit fully to either side
is a fallacy. We cannot remain as a separate third team living unto
ourselves. We’re kidding ourselves if we think that’s a possibility.
Based on Scripture, the reality is there are only
two sides, or two teams, and they are God’s kingdom and Satan’s
kingdom. There are only two teams on the spiritual playing field,
not three. So, if there can’t be a neutral “Me” or “You” team, then
that means you and I have to choose one of the sides in which to
identify.
Let’s pause for a moment and consider a real sport.
Visualize with me a basketball court with the stands on each side
filled to capacity with fans supporting each team. As the whistle
blows to begin the game, the fans have two things for which they’ll
cheer. They’ll cheer when their team does something good, such as
makes a basket or rebounds a missed shot. They’ll also cheer when
the other team doesn’t do something well, such as misses a basket or
turns over the ball. The same is true of the fans on the other side
of the court. They’ll cheer when their team does something well, and
cheer when the other team messes up.
To define that even further, you could say that
every action by a player is either in support of his own team, or
for the opposing team. For instance, a player on Team A is fouled
and he is given the opportunity to make a free throw. If he makes
the basket, that action supports his team, and the fans of Team A
cheer. When that same player is fouled again, but misses the basket,
his action (or lack of action) ends up supporting Team B, and the
fans for Team B cheer. Every single shot, rebound, foul, pass or
block made by any player either supports his own team, or it
supports the other team. There’s not any action a player can make
that is neutral, or that doesn’t affect one of the teams. It either
helps his team, or it helps the other.
Since we know from a biblical viewpoint that there
are really only two teams on the “spiritual” playing field, it’s
really not possible for you or me to remain in neutral territory.
So, regardless of which team we think we’re playing for, every
action we take, and every word we speak, supports either God’s
kingdom or Satan’s. When you speak disparagingly of someone, you’re
supporting Satan’s realm. When you lie about something, you’re
supporting Satan’s team. If you have an opportunity to speak to
someone of God’s love, but chicken out, you’re supporting, or
playing for Satan’s kingdom.
This bears repeating: You and I cannot remain
neutral. We might want to believe that’s the case, but there is no
such thing as a neutral team in life. Our actions, our attitudes,
our words and our behavior are either for the Lord, or they are
against Him. And, if they are against Him, then that means we are
living our lives for Satan. That’s a harsh reality, but it’s true.
Here’s another reason why we can’t remain neutral.
The Holy Spirit indwelling every believer is constantly performing
His sanctifying work in our lives. He continually works to edify and
encourage us, and He equips us with the capacity to obey, love and
forgive. He persistently woos us to holiness.
On the other hand, Satan’s sole desire where you’re
concerned is to make you completely useless for God’s Kingdom. He
cheers when you disobey God, or when you compromise your beliefs
just to have fun. Don’t take time to have a Quiet Time with the Lord
or spend time with Him in prayer? You make Satan very pleased that
his toys and distractions have accomplished his purposes. Satan is
delighted when you focus more on those areas that are not in harmony
with God’s hopes for you, or when you become inactive in those areas
that would keep your relationship with the Lord sweet and fresh.
It basically comes down to the age-old battle
between the old and new natures. When you don’t allow the Holy
Spirit to have any footing or influence in your lifestyle to support
your new nature, your old, ungodly and rebellious nature will
dominate. Look again at Satan’s ongoing purpose for you. There is
not one single item listed that is for your good. He doesn’t love
you. Actually, he doesn’t care one iota about you. He’s only
interested in what you can do for him, and for his eternal purpose,
and there’s no reward in it for you. At every turn he’s recruiting
and manipulating you to play for his team, but behind your back he
laughs and ridicules you for your spiritual weakness and mediocrity.
He mocks you that you have fallen for his camouflages and
deceitfulness.
On the other hand, God loves you so much that He
gave His Son to die for you. He loves you wholeheartedly and
unconditionally, and His ongoing purpose for you is filled with good
and immeasurable riches. He never manipulates or tricks you into
being effective for His Kingdom. Instead, His desire is for you to
please Him willingly and without coercion. In addition, He blesses
and rewards your faithfulness and commitment to Him.
The only reward Satan has up his sleeve for you is
your own self destruction when you get suckered into his lies.
When put this way, it boggles the mind that any
believer would ever choose to play for Satan’s team, or live a
lifestyle that supports his goals in any way. He is the
personification of selfishness and evil, while God is the embodiment
of love and sacrifice. Yet, we tend to fool ourselves into thinking
that we can remain neutral, and that our actions don’t hurt or
affect anyone other than ourselves. That’s a satanic lie that we
have bought into, which of course, is one of his intended goals.
When you choose to please yourself, you, in turn, please Satan.
To reiterate what’s been said earlier, there are
only two teams on the playing field, and everything you do supports
one of them.
“Choose you this day whom you will serve” Joshua
24:15.
So, what’s your decision? Which team do you choose
to play for?
Top |
