With God On Our Side

Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place for wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." says the Lord.

Romans 12: 17 - 19 NKJV 

This week the world watched once again as the middle east was thrown into another regional conflict.  Provoked beyond the point of continuing to stand firm, the nation of Israel struck back at their Hamas terrorist attackers.  In recent years we have seen some relatively calm periods in this part of the world.  However, in a region which at times seems to be dominated with populations concerned only with centuries old blood feuds, one has to wonder if we will ever see true peace in the middle east.  In my lifetime, I have been witness to many of the wars and violence which has scarred that part of the world in modern times.  I remember one news talking head back when the second gulf war began refer to it as a "holy war."  Funny, I wasn't aware that God Himself was taking sides in our conflicts.  Yet, in almost all of the wars which the United States has been involved in, we go in guns blazing "With God on our side."  Now, I'm no pastor, but are we really to accept that a God of love will abruptly disregard His very nature in order to support the bloodlust of one nation?  I would hope that the God which I follow is not that shallow.  We're told that God is love {1 John 4:8}.  That doesn't mean that God is love for one segment of the worlds population.  For His love extends to all of His creation, even for those who we may think are too heathen to deserve it.  A friend asked me a question once as we were discussing the truth of Christ in us.  Did Adolf Hitler resemble Gods image?  Absolutely!  The trouble was that he didn't realize his true identity.  The list goes on through all of eternity, Josef Stalin, Saddam Hussein and a host of others who for one reason or another refused to see who it was they truly were inside.  The same goes for those who have committed violence against others.  They were created in the Lords very image as I was, yet without the revelation of knowing who they are.  Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone knew their true identity in Christ?  

Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.  Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?  Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.  For he is Gods minister to you for good.  But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Romans 13: 2 - 4 NKJV 

On May 14th, 1948, David Ben-Gurion issued the proclamation forming the nation state of Israel.  Almost immediately, Egypt, Jordan and Syria invaded the newly formed nation.  It was only the beginning of many years of conflict in the region.  I choose to believe that the nation of Israel was created out of the ashes of hate.  Indeed, just a few years before its founding, the world first became aware of the horrors of the German Nazi holocaust near the ending of the second world war.  In all, about six million European Jews never lived to see the day Israel became a nation once again.  It might be difficult for well meaning Christians to accept the fact that "All" were created in the Lords image, but that's how it is.  Scripture does not tell us that God made exceptions as to who He chose to share His image with.  So did God mess up our DNA somehow?  How is it that some exemplify the Father who is in them while others do not?  Think about this in terms of a child separated from his family at birth.  Even though his father might have been a well known pastor and a man of God, the boy may grow up to become a hard core criminal.  The son shares all of the physical attributes and DNA of his parents, yet he knows nothing about who he really is.  The same is true of those who commit violence or do wrong.  Are they still Gods creation?  Absolutely.  Does He still abide in them?  I believe so.  We're told that the Lord created us from the dust of the ground and breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  Not just a select few...everyone.  We all have Gods DNA and very presence within us.  Of course, there are those who have been blinded as to who they truly are.  

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

~Scott~