Monday, December 30, 2019

Onward Christian Soldiers... The War is Here

The world is a more dark, hostile, and nasty place. "That old serpent, which is the Devil" reigns in the hearts of many. People use the power that they have and abuse it, not just in this country, but all over.
Yesterday, I was looking for articles about 76 people who were held by a group of murderous people called Boko Harem (the same people who kidnapped 276 school girls to become brides or kill them) in central parts of Africa. Four of these hostages, their Christian leaders, were killed because they won't deny Christ or their Christian faith. Before anyone else died, people said they saw Christ who told them "all would be well." The assailants suddenly started screaming "Snakes! Snakes!" and one of them dropped down dead. One of the hostages grabbed the dead soldiers fallen gun to shoot the fleeing Boko Harem soldiers when a child stopped him and said, "You don't need to do that. Can't you see the men in white fighting for us?" (ANGELS!! Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love and appreciate angels.) 72 of them, many being women and children, were able to make it out alive.

Sadly, this hasn't been the case for many others. Just from Boko Harem, hundreds of thousands have been terrorized, kidnapped, murdered, and horribly tortured. Many have left their home countries as refugees, seeking safety, and sanctuary.

My heart aches for all of them. I wish I could save them and stop the brutality that Satan has happily influenced.

I know that these aren't the only bad things that are going on in the world. Mass shootings in churches and schools, shopping malls and concerts. Abductions and child marriages/prostitution and abuses of every kind. Things range from national news level to family hostilities and neighbor conflicts. The world is so full of hate and anger and animosity that it makes me sick.

Many many ask, "How can God let this happen?" "How can He stand by and let His children be massacred?" "They believe in Him, why isn't He saving them?" "How can a 'loving' God do this?"

I turn to Alma and Amulek and the destruction that happened to the Christians at Ammonihah:

"And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.

   10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.
   11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day." (Alma 14: 9-11)

Alma and Amulek saw the martyrdom of Amulek's family and the other women and children who wouldn't say that they didn't believe in Christ. It is a good chance that Amulek's wife and children were there being thrown into the fire. Oh, how similar it is to the 76 and other martyrs throughout the ages. Some times we are enable to do anything to help those who are suffering, especially when they are across the world and dying for Christ. It is so then they can be witnesses against them to the horrific things that others are doing so then God can judge them accordingly and they will be cast into the place that is prepared for them. It isn't God hates the people who die. Not at all. He's simply calling them home and their test in mortality has ended. It's okay (Sad?Yes, but okay), because this isn't the end of everything.

I remember these thoughts when there was a shooting in Las Vegas in 2017. How 58 people died and over 400 were injured. I remember people asking "How can God let that happen?" Christ isn't going to stop people from making their choices. He's not going to stop them from pulling the trigger, but they will have to stand before their God (whether they acknowledged Him on earth as such or not) with witnesses beyond belief. At which point, I wouldn't want to be them.

But for those "which had not worshiped the beast" but follow Christ and are martyred for Him they will "live and reign with Christ for a thousand years" (Rev 20:4). Those who do, will be well. Those who pass on who may not have known Christ will have the opportunity to learn of Him and draw to Him. There is hope. Eternal hope.

There are those, however, who's test is not done who are still needed for something else. Those 76 people are valiant soldiers in God's Army. A pastor who talked with those 72 surviving saints, "credits Jesus' appearance to the group to the fact that these people knew no other Biblical text to visit. They are all illiterate and thus no access to scripture so Jesus proved it himself." How marvelous and miraculous would that be? Miracles happen all the time if we are willing to open our eyes to see it.

"Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war with the cross of Jesus going on before." It is war and it's right smack dab in front of our faces. Satan is around because he is a nuisance and he hates us with a passion that rivals the heat of brimstone. Satan doesn't give up on you, so we need to double down our efforts to be better and draw closer to God who also doesn't give up on you.

Remember that God loves us. He loves you. He loves me. He even loves those who are choosing poorly, though their choices sadden Him greatly.

We can do this. We can face the fight and with God on our side we will win.