Enemy-occupied Territory

"Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going." 

(from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis*)

Why does CS Lewis say that our world is "enemy occupied territory?"  Well, would a merciful and gracious God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness really cause all the horrible things we see in this world? 

No.

The evil and horrible things we see in this world are the work of the enemy of our souls, the one whose first twisting questions in the Garden of Eden have led to so much death and destruction.   The Garden's first seemingly no-big-deal conversation is like a leaking bathroom water line that drips, drips, drips and eventually leads to wet plaster, mold, and a full-blown mess.  The only way to get rid of such mess is to gut the entire affected area, dry it out, and rebuild with new supplies.

And that's what Jesus did on the cross.  His death, resurrection, and ascension were God's way of gutting the entire sin-soaked earth and rebuilding with new supplies of love, grace, mercy, peace, joy, and hope. 

When King Jesus landed on earth in the form of a baby in a manger, it was as the rightful King who landed in disguise ready to sabotage the enemy's work in this world.  The enemy knew what Jesus's life would be - that's why he tried to take out the baby while still in the womb, by having King Herod kill infants around Bethlehem, and later by tempting Jesus in the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane.  The enemy has always known he can't win over God.  But, he can create a lot of pain, hurt, destruction and carnage.

That's why being a Jesus-follower means living a life that sabotages the enemy's plans.  We could easily slide into the easy life of this world - accepting whatever ideas come along and living whatever way we want, even participating in the destruction and carnage. However, when we live life as Jesus-followers, we purpose, we plan, we work to become more like Jesus. We go against the grain of our wider culture and we sabotage the enemy's desires to keep us from God.  

We read our Bibles faithfully, we pray faithfully, we meet together regularly with other believers for worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.  The writer of Hebrews calls us to "provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." All this leads to transformation in our lives - and sabotage of the enemy's plans. The Apostle Paul writes, "[W]e are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."  (2 Cor. 3:18)

What are you doing today that participates in the sabotage of the plans of the enemy and strengthens your relationship to God? 

God of Mercy and Grace,

We bless your name and thank you that you are slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and continually calling us into deeper relationship with Jesus.  Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to never fail or abandon us. Give us courage and strength; remind us that we don't need to be afraid because you go before us.  Keep us always in your Word, Prayer, and Fellowship with other believers so that we can be transformed into the image of your Son Jesus Christ and so that we can counter the attacks of the enemy of our souls.  Holy Spirit, lead us and guide us in your righteousness and make our ways straight on the paths you have for us.  In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen. 

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15 NRSV)

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25 NRSV)

"And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG)

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before [your enemies]. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

"Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me." (Psalm 5:8 NIV)

  

*Mere Christianity. Copyright © 1952, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1980, C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd.