2020-02-03 Whose Fight Is It?

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12

I had a troubling dream last night that is still bouncing around my head. I’m one of the fortunate ones, I think, that is able to influence my own dreams. It doesn’t happen all the time; I seldom remember my dreams. Generally, I find myself realizing I am dreaming and can change its direction. This is particularly nice with unpleasant dreams. These, I have found, have a way of coming back around to be bad dreams again, so I have learned to simply wake myself up instead. This is what I did this morning.

This particular dream was one that people were being herded on a journey. There were other people going in the same direction, but we weren’t together. I was in the city, and we were going through buildings, through rooms and even theatres. Everything was very dark, just enough light to navigate. We weren’t allowed to rest but encouraged to keep moving. There was an increasing sense of impending doom the farther we travelled. Just how far the destination was, no one knew. There was an increasing sense of panic as we went through each room and an increasing sense of brutal enforcement for us to keep moving. Everyone was silent.

Well, that was about enough of that dream, so I woke myself up. Interestingly, in this process, I kept thinking of a different type of migration, one that I am actually on right now. So are you, if you are born-again.

Isaiah 35:8-10 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

So, I woke myself up and read this passage. What a different journey than the one of my dream. The odd thing is that the one in my dream has played itself out over and over as nations conquered nations, often resulting in genocide of the masses. The highway of scripture is much different. It’s the journey of everlasting life, full of light, truth, and joy!

It’s very possible that my dream was influenced by a conversation I had with my daughters last night. During it, I was really struck about the hopeless situation I see our country in. We are being torn apart and enslaved between two political parties that are bent on destroying one another. Young people are flocking to socialist ideologies as the answer to the Democrat/Republican debacle. They see socialism as the answer to their student loan and healthcare problems. They have no comprehension of the financial impact any of these changes will create. The fact that someone has to pay the bill is lost to them because they see a government debt that is already so large that they can’t comprehend it. You know what? I can’t blame them. The fact that socialism/communism is a godless ideology is just fine with them. That for me is the biggest problem of all.

Folks, I don’t see Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren becoming president this election. A decade from now might be another story as more and more youth fill the ballot boxes. It’s just a matter of time. Look how fast homosexuality became mainstream. Our churches will trip over themselves to embrace the new political party just like they did to embrace sexual sin. Yes, of course, some won’t, but more and more will.

It’s also interesting to note how little my friends concern themselves with politics. Given that we have an impeachment in progress, there is very little being said about it. I’ve been in lots of conversations, had lots of meals, plenty of opportunity to talk about it with like-minded people. But it simply doesn’t come up.

Why? I suppose it is because we are on a different highway. It will be interesting to see how we are tempted to get embroiled in the coming presidential election.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Father, let us live in peaceful and quiet lives. Amen.

Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers

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