In your seed all the
nations
of the earth shall be
blessed,
because you have
obeyed
My voice.
Genesis 22:18
We are to
be concerned with the authority of the Holy Scriptures and our conversation
should have this as our topic so that we engage with our minds, in advancing
our faith, and our ability to defend the truth. What is the most often topic of
your conversation? How often we celebrate those who in warlike defense of our
country with hymns, and praises, even lessons and do not do the same with those
martyrs who did not make any such defense. They simply spoke the word of God
wherever they traveled, and yet they are so little spoken of in our Churches
and in our conversations. This is probable true, often not taught to us in our
Sunday Schools, or from the pulpit. The question that comes to mind is: “If
God’s Kingdom is truly one of peace, or charity, and of brotherhood, one of
devotion, and truth, justice, and meekness, and those in this Kingdom have
resisted warlike bloodthirsty barbarity; as this is a good definition of war,
why then do we celebrate those involved in such barbarity, as war, and have
received such illustrious remembrance in God’s Church and not those who have
resisted such a war and were involved in a war spreading the Gospel of God: Why?”
This is a good question so I will attempt to give an answer. I will use the
world of Rupert of Deutz (? To 1135 A.D.), in his response to this question
spoken to him by Abbot Cuno: “Their struggle and their military might have,
with God’s help, been of inestimable profit to us and to the whole world. For
the devil was working through Antiochus Epiphanes (c. 215 BC –
164 BC), to destroy all memory of and all hope and faith in the promise of God
to Abraham that in his seed all nations would be blessed. What was it that
Antiochus did? He erected on god’s altar the detestable idol of abomination;
throughout the cities of Judea his men erected sanctuaries; at the doors of
homes and in the streets they burned incense and offered sacrifice; the books
of God’s law they tore up0 and cast into the flames. And if anyone was found
with the books of God’s covenant or if anyone was found observing God’s law,
him they put to death according to the royal edict.[1] All this was done in an effort to annihilate the Jewish people, so
that in Abraham’s seed, that is, in Christ, all nations should not be blessed
and so that God’s purpose and promise might be of no effect. But, thanks be to
God, good Cuno, the foundations was successfully defended and from it have come
great results. God’s truth has been mightily fulfilled and the Maccabees were
the ones who accomplished that feat. For that reason they can rightfully claim
an illustrious renown in God’s church.[2]
God’s
purpose to bless all nations according to the promise given to Abraham will be
accomplished by all sorts of means, especially true is the mean of using such
barbarous wars that often stop the flow of Satanic influence upon people. It
was and is necessary for God through His word protect the people through whom
he intended to become incarnate for the salvation of the human race. It is this
I write about: the victory of God’s Word!. Great and powerful is God’s Word,
who has prevailed, but great also is the enemy who was conquered, conquered by
the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven by Jesus Christ. God uses
today forces that are not Christian to ward off those who would hinder and if
possible, to annihilate the Word of God and His people. God uses Christians to
do the same although often we are not engaged in open warfare, our war is
silently done in our workplaces, our homes, with our neighbors and in our
Churches. Satan is defeated, but he is not destroyed and he still in the ways
he can devise attempt to stop this promise of God to Abraham: “Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1Peter 5:8–9. If
you are not at war with sin, and this means to be at war with Satan, and his
hordes of demons, who have but one thing in mind, to destroy God’s children, to
rule this world. And if Satan can do so, then he believes that God will give to
him this world for he would then have usurped God’s authority over mankind.
This is the battle Satan has with God, not power, it is authority, who will be
the ruler of man is at stake. God has decided and has adjudicated this by His
Son, the Only Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.
This war, wherever it is being
fought by God’s children is filled with terror, suffering at times, especially
so for those in countries that are openly opposed to Christianity and will kill
Christians, and it may seem difficult to carry out this mandate to live as God
has commanded, then, remember the promise of God to Abraham, for God will bless
all those in all the nations that turn to Him and live for and by Him. You are
already winners in this war, personally, you are legally in heaven, and in God’s
timing you will reap the reward of eternal life, no Satan, not demonic hordes
to try and destroy your faith; “But may the god of all grace, who called us
to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever
and ever. Amen” (1Peter 5:10–11).
If you are reproached
for the
Name
of Christ,
Blessed are you, for the Spirit
Of
glory and of God rests
Upon you. On their part He is
Blasphemed,
but on your
Part He is glorified.
1Peter 4:14
Live Victoriously
Richard L. Crumb
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