Something to Think About
The words of Psalm 20:5 really intrigue me, “May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.” (NIV) I think this verse, according to our culture and society today, has a sense of paradox to it. Psalm 20:5 uses its wording to place the image of a battle scene in the reader’s mind. We see troops rallying and hefting their banners high, right before charging into battle. Here’s the catch: the word joy. Troops are rejoicing and praising God while at war. Many of these young troops will die but there is joy in the camp. Why? The battle is already won “in the name of our God.”
The problem is, our culture today tells us that war must be born out of anger and resentment. Our culture always wants us to choose the fight over the joy of forgiveness. If someone bullies you, you have to fight back. I f someone bombs your country, you must bomb back. You are required by some unwritten “universal law” to hate, to be violent, and to play the same game your enemies play. You have been told that this is a “dog eat dog world” and the only way to move up is stepping on people to get there. You have been told that the only way to respond to sin is with more sin. However, this only creates an unending cycle.
See, their game is a game of sin that we can’t play anymore. Sure, we used to play that game, maybe we were even champions, but now, we have a new game. We must become the second place champions of the only fulfilling game, “How Well Can You Love Those Who Hate You?” The first place champion is Jesus Christ. Now, we must follow the suit of His “I Pray for Those Who Persecute Me” card. When we transferred over to the life of Christ from the death of sin, we entered the game. We stated that the Game of Sin and Hatred must be put to an end, that Satan’s game would never and could never fulfill us. Something had to change. At the same moment we also said “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21, NIV) Now, we are to put that in to practice. The rules of Christ’s game are simple:
1. We no longer have rights, we are a slave to Christ, and we now belong to Him. (1 Cor. 7:22)
2. Because we have been freed, we are no longer bound in any way to the Game of Sin and Hatred.
3. We are to act as Jesus would. (W.W.J.D – Col. 3:10)
4. When we don’t act like Jesus, we repent. (Acts 3:19)
So, the question stands, which game are we going to play? ~ Sophia Wise
