If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.Mark 3:24
The costliest war in American history was fought between 1861 and 1865 – over 700,000 estimated deaths. It is very hard to grasp the enormity of that titanic struggle over slavery. A civil war is caused by two polarized groups within one nation or two polarized points of view within one heart.
The differences in our nation have been kept reasonably controlled through democratic elections. Thanks to our Constitution and the power of God, opposites can co-exist in America and civil war has been averted. But that threat is now greater than ever. We are living in dangerous times as violence increases. Recently, leaders in very high positions have called for rejection of the national government. Bill O’Reilly went further by saying that this is the most dangerous time since the civil war and we are seeing rebellion just like the Confederate states in 1860. This tug of war between blue states and red states is our current reality and hopefully we will see resolution even as we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation.
You may not be able to stop a civil war in our nation but you have the power to prevent a war in your heart. We face that struggle every day and it will be even more difficult if we see more hatred on a national level. The temptation is to take sides and get caught up in the fight rather than be peacemakers.
If we are following Jesus, we will not harm anyone. Christ gave us the ultimate example of forgiveness to show us how to handle the sins of others. He even went so far as to command us to love our enemies. We are called to give others what they often do not deserve. The way of grace and mercy is enabled by the Holy Spirit of God. If we all truly placed God in His rightful place, the result would be a nation at peace. But, we have free will. We must distinguish between right and wrong and follow God as closely as possible. Note in the verses below that all human beings will be required to reveal the condition of our hearts by the choices they make.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The way of grace and mercy is enabled by the Holy Spirit of God. If we all truly placed God in His rightful place, the result would be peace. But, the way of the flesh can produces a civil war inside which Chuck Swindoll describes as a Raging Battle in the video below.
Disobedience divides. Self rule instead of God rule divides. Pride instead of humility divides. Doing what I want instead of what God wants divides.
The law is given by God to provide order, harmony and unity. God wants the very best for us. Unfortunately, we can see God incorrectly or ignore God and the results are extremely disastrous including loss of heaven! Every day, we must choose to love or hate, choose right or wrong, as we face differences. All of us are commanded by God to love. We avoid the civil war by “Winning the Raging Battle Within Us” -that is the title of the video below. Please listen to this tremendous man of God speak divine wisdom on how to make our hearts right no matter what the future may hold. Message begins at 45:50.
Above all else, guard your heart for out of it come the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
