Joshua 5:13-14 NIV
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
Which side are you on? We live in a society where the norm is to choose a side when it comes to almost everything. The interaction between Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s army challenged my inner core as a person who identifies myself as a soldier in the army of God. There is an incredible lesson that every follower of Jesus Christ could learn through Joshua’s interaction with this man in the scriptures for this week. We were not saved by God to take sides in this world. Jesus, during his earthly ministry, demonstrated for us what the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua as he reminds us that God’s will was his purpose (John 4:34). Our sole purpose is God’s mission! We live in a world that thrives on division. Can you imagine what it would be like if all Christians took a stand that they are not for either side in a society that is always divided? You may say this is impossible to do because there is too much going on. It's not impossible because Jesus overcame the world when he was in the flesh and left us an example for those who desire to follow him. For example, politics were around during Jesus’ time. When Jesus was asked a question about tax, read what he says in Luke 20:25. You don't think Jesus knew how the government at the time was abusing the poor and cheating people? Yes, Jesus did, but he did not let the earthly distractions interfere with his purpose which is to seek and save those who were lost. His purpose was not to fight the earthly battles but the heavenly war that is raging for the soul of humanity. I'll give you another example. According to God, marriage is between a man and a woman. The world says if you believe this truth, you are not being loving toward the other group of people because God loves everyone. Another group says if you do not embrace the people who believe in same-sex marriage, you are not a Christian. Do you see how the enemy uses division to throw us off focus? As a soldier in God's army, we believe that God’s son died for the entire world (John 3:16). In the same chapter of John, God says those who recognize the light and live by truth will benefit from the sacrifice he made. Both groups have some truth but not the whole truth. That is why it's important we stay in the Word of God instead of choosing sides. The world will hate you for the truth but that is one of the costs of being in God's army. In God's truth there is no grey area or agree to disagree line, it is simply truth according to God's commands. Whose army are you fighting in?
