The right side? Believers know God wants to be by their side
By Dean Collins
”Chose a side on a given issue or topic and debate it.” It is a common classroom assignment to help students understand the different arguments or positions associated with a topic and to learn how to think logically and present their case clearly. While this activity may help students determine their position on given issues, the assignment is more about learning how to think, decide, and present thoughts clearly and publicly.
You do remember that we were all once on the same side, right? In the Garden, Adam and Eve walked side by side with their Creator enjoying all that God had created for his prized possession, humans, image bearers of God himself, living in harmony with God. All was good in the Garden until the enemy of God deceived Adam and Eve. The enemy was and is about division. The enemy of God wanted a separation, a distinction of sides. Humankind took the bait. And ever since we have lived in a world where every day the various factions and sides try to gain influence, control, and power because someone (I wonder who) has convinced them their side is on the right side of history.
Perfect harmony
In the fifth psalm of ascent, those on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem recalled the many difficulties from which the Lord had delivered them. “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us.”
God’s plan was for the Creator and creation to live in perfect harmony. All on the same side. But who rose up against the Lord in the Garden? We might be tempted to say the enemy, but we must remember the enemy tempted and it was mankind that sinned and set themselves, and now us, in a constant spiral to control, influence, and be sufficient without the Creator at our side. And we sometimes believe we are so smart we can convince God himself to join us on our side of the argument or situation. God cannot be fooled or convinced by our pitiful arguments. Creation simply works best when we step across the great divide and into the grace, mercy, and wisdom of God.
God has no desire that his creation continue the constant arguments between countries and political parties. God has no pleasure in his body, the church when we battle to convince each other over who’s right about God’s Word.
Endless help
This psalm ends with a statement of assurance: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” God in his great mercy sent his Son, Jesus, to create a way for us and all humankind to get back to the side of God. Jesus spent three-plus years teaching us about the kingdom of God. He gave his life on the cross, was buried, and was resurrected so that we could have a way to cancel the sin that divides us from God and from each other. He will one day return to earth to renew and restore all things and put an end once and for all to all that is broken.
The song “In Christ Alone” reminds us that our help, even our salvation is in the name of the Lord: “No guilt in life, no fear in death . . . Can ever pluck me from His hand.”
There will be times when we follow close to Jesus and still experience the pain of brokenness due to the sins of mankind, even our sins. But nothing can keep us from the love of God. Without the Lord being with us we could not continue on. We will escape many difficulties by the hand of the Lord who is with us. And one day when we take our final breath, we will all know fully that our help was and is in the name of the Lord.
Read this wonderful psalm. If you have a moment listen to this powerful song. And go out today knowing that God is by your side!
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 124 ESV
Photo by wildpixel at istockphoto.com
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