Are You On The Lord's Side?
"So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets cut of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they
had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it and Moses said unto Aaron, `What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?' So Aaron said,
`So not let the anger of my lord become hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said unto me, "Make us gods that shall go forth before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we do not know what has become of
him." And I said unto them, "Whoever has any gold, let them break it off." So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.' Now when Moses saw the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame
among their enemies), then
Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, `whoever is on the Lord's side let him come to me .' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. And he said unto them, `Thus says the
Lord God of Israel; "Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.' "So the sons of Levi did according
to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day" (Exodus 32: 19-28).
In most matters we are prone to take a side. Just think of a political or athletic contest. We can be pro
or con, or possibly even neutral, in regard to temporal matters, but in matters of religion, we are either for God (on His side), or against Him. Those on His side had no part in the idolatrous worship of Exodus 32, or were quick to repent when the sin
was brought to their attention. Those who partook and refused to repent constituted the other side. Three thousand men stood against God that day and perished (v. 28), but the choice was their's.
God has
always given man the choice of sides. Joshua of old recognized this prerogative, and chose to be on the side of the Lord, "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we serve the Lord." (Josh.24:15). Adam and Eve were also granted the choice, but they chose to disobey (Gen.
2:16, 17; 3: 1-6). God had plainly and definitely revealed His side, but they chose to ignore it, consequently paying a heavy price for that decision (Gen. 3: 7-19).
Those on the Lord's side have always been
called upon to declare themselves. There is no neutral territory with respect to being for or against the Lord. Jesus said, "He that is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad" (Mt. 12:30). Furthermore, it is not
possible for one to serve both sides and be pleasing to God. The great prophet, Elijah, rebuked Israel for trying to serve both sides, "And Elijah came to all the people, and said, `How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God,
follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him'" (1 Kgs. 18:21). In His sermon on the mount, Jesus plainly taught that one cannot serve two masters "for he will either hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon" (Mt. 6:24). When it comes to the truth (Jn 17:17), one is either on the Lord's side or his is not. The fence rider, although he may think he is on the Lord's side, is in reality taking
his stand
against God. We are to be separate and distinct as those on the Lord's side. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom.
12:2). "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17).
Those truly on the Lord's side will render Christ
allegiance; supporting His cause by guarding, upholding, and defending the gospel. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear"
(1 Pet. 3:15). Paul was "set for the defense of the gospel" (Phil. 1:17), and told Timothy to, "Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and vain babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge" (1 Tim.
6:20).
In removing the guilty from Israel, Moses told each man to "put his word on his side" (Exod. 32:27). We, too, must be willing to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17),
and use it "for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:4, 5). Of course, one must realize
that to "strap on the sword" and stand on the Lord's side often leads to unpopularity, and even persecution. "Yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). Because of this, many are not willing to stand on
the Lord's side. Oh how we love the praise of men! (cf Jn. 12:42, 43).
At the judgment there will be two sides (Mt. 25: 31-46). To those on the Lord's side Jesus will say, "Come you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." However, those not on His side will hear, "Depart from Me, you cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Which side will it be for
you?
October, 1997 Volume 3 Issue 4
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