We have been in some dangerous places, North Ireland
during the troubles in the early 1970s, crossing from Jordan to Israel on the
Allenby bridge as a rifle shot echoed off the rocks, and in the dark side of
several American cities. Some of the members of our Body of Christ are
suffering severe overt danger today, perhaps even martyrdom, but what is the
danger that you and I face? St. Paul tells us that, “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].
There is overt and covert danger.
Facing overt danger you may lose your life. If that happens, as a Christian,
you will be with Him forever. But in facing covert danger you may lose your soul;
that danger is eternal. Morality is a matter of life and death. That is why God
gave us commandments, and why Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. God wants
to keep us out of the greater danger.
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who
trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;
He is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my
shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who
subdues peoples under me” [Psalm 144:1-2].
O Lord, from whom all good things do come: Grant to
us Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things
that be good, and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. [BCP 1662].
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