Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21-22;
Romans 7:18
Recognizing Our Enmity
As children we played
games drawn from the scenario of war. When a friend approached we pretended
that we were sentries. The dialogue was simple: "Halt! Who goes there?
Friend or foe?" Our categories left no room for indifferent neutrality.
They were restricted to two options, friend or enemy. Those are the only
options we have in our relationship with God. No one is neutral. We are either
God's friends or God's enemies.
Jonathan Edwards once
preached a sermon titled, "Man, Naturally God's Enemies." In this
sermon Edwards declared: "Men, in general, will own that they are sinners.
There are few, if any, whose consciences are so blinded as not to be sensible
they have been guilty of sin . . . And yet few of them are sensible that they
are God's enemies. They do not see how they can be truly so called; for they
are not sensible that they wish God any hurt, or endeavor to do Him any."
Yet despite human
protestations to the contrary, Scripture clearly describes natural fallen men
as enemies of God. Paul, in speaking of our salvation, wrote, "While we
were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Rom.
5:10). Again, "You . . . were alienated [from God] and hostile in mind,
doing evil deeds" (Col. 1:21). Also, "The mind that is set on the
flesh is hostile to God" (Rom. 8:7).
Coram deo: Living before the face of God
Think of the characteristics and qualities of
intimate friendship, then apply these to your spiritual relationship with the
heavenly Father. Are you truly a friend of God?
Adapted From: You Version Discerning God’s Will
