Inspirational

FIGHTING AGAINST GOD

Albert Farley

In Acts 5:33-39, when the unbelieving Jewish council was about to kill all of the apostles of Christ, Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the law, said, “Keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it – lest you even be found to fight against God.”  Read Acts 23:1-10.

Satan was the first to fight against God.  “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.  So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”  Revelation 12:7-9.  These fallen angels are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.  2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41.

Those who fight against God are following Satan.  We read of the great number of people who rebelled against God and who died in the flood, Genesis 7; in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19; in the plagues and the drowning of the Egyptians, Genesis 7-14; in the deaths of the Israelites, Numbers 14; and many other examples in the Bible.

Can we be guilty of fighting against God today!  Yes!  How?  By not believing in God and Jesus Christ; not accepting, reading, studying, and obeying the Holy Bible; not loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; by not loving our neighbors as ourselves; by worshipping false gods; not loving our enemies; not believing and obeying the gospel of Christ; not accepting the church Christ built and purchased with His own blood; not worshipping God in Spirit and in truth; living in covetousness, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, laziness, lawlessness, dishonesty, lying, deceit; by persecuting faithful Christians; etc.

Dear friends, fighting against God is senseless and fatal.  It can only lead to our own hurt, death, and destruction.  As Jesus asked his persecutor, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? … It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”  Acts 9:4, 5; Galatians 6:7, 8.  Why would we have any desire to fight against our Creator who has given us life and every good and perfect gift?  Why would we want to fight against our Father who loves us so and Who gave His only begotten Son to die for us that we, through Him, might become His sons and daughters with the hope of eternal life?  

Jesus Christ said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  Matthew 12:30.  Someday God will punish all who fight against Him!  Paul said Jesus Christ will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels to take vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey His gospel.  These will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power!  2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

Are you fighting against God?