Discipleship Encouragement and Correction, Evangelistic Messages
Of His Answers
“Are you for us or for our enemies?” Joshua asked this of the pre incarnate Son of God Who appeared opposite of him as the Commander of the army of the Lord. Jesus’ answer? “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
(Joshua 5:13-15)
The Lord’s answer may well leave us thinking, ‘What? Is He for us or against us? It’s not clear to me. I’m a Benjamite Baptist; don’t tell me I’m not in His army!’ Later, when in Mark 9:38-40, the disciples approached Jesus about a man who was casting out demons in His name but did not specifically follow Him as they did, Jesus said to them, “For the one who is not against us is for us.” (ESV) Again we hear an answer that causes us to wonder: Was the man or not? Didn’t Jesus tell those who even cast our demons, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (ESV, Matthew 7:21-23)
Combined, His answers should make us a bit unsettled. We just might find ourselves asking, ‘Is He my Captain and Commander? Am I truly in His army? Or, am I simply a benefactor who lives morally or ancestrally within his camp and happens to share the earthly benefit of His presence in others but not ourselves?’ Sure, there’s not a lot to blowing one’s horn while circling a fallen city at a safe distance (referring to a metaphorical Jericho). But to really enter into that battle for heaven which Jesus said was only to be taken by violence? (Matthew 11:12) Some may think Jesus was only speaking of Himself and His violent death, but not so quick, our labor may be light; that is true, but some of us don’t labor at all. Others leave the full armor of God to rust and their hearts rot under the breastplate.
As for being one of those that performed works in His name; such as casting out demons, but did not actually follow Him? You might ask, “What does that mean to me apart from the command that I shouldn’t judge them? If it happens as you say that Christ says to them, ‘depart from me;’ so?” To that I answer, ‘Well, don’t you think it’s perhaps wise to examine yourself?’ In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we’re advised, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” Upon examining my life, I can tell you there were a number of times I defended the Gospel in conversation but didn’t ‘follow’ Him as Lord. In a pathetic demonstration of human rationalization, I thought by ‘speaking out in His defense’ things would go less harshly for me. Just perhaps, He would rescue me out of a rough situation. Yeah, right. But gratefully, God exposed my folly that He would be pleased that I agreed with Him about the necessity of His Son! Nonsense. Only those who seek a more tolerable hell by living what they consider a moral, Christian life are so deluded. I pray that we wake up!
In sum, Christ’s answers (as His parables) were often given for God’s elect to be drawn into meditation, and to learn as King David did of his true position and sin from the prophet Nathan, “Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) So, whose camp are we really? Who are we truly following? What are we doing when everyone else is off at war and we find ourselves bored late at night? Where is our armor? Did we cross the Jordan prepared for war; sword raised in hand or did we drag it behind us because although we crossed, we did so unwillingly? Yes, the answers our Lord gave us in the Scriptures are filled with more questions to be asked and answered; verses followed as if His own footprints and trail. Do we do so? Answer? Not all who say, ‘Lord, Lord….’
