"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things
worse” (Luke 11:23, The Message).
I have often heard people say that life is full of battles. In the part of the world where I come from, that is considered an understatement. Among my people, the correct position is that life is in itself full scale warfare. This view appears to be more
consistent with the Bible. For instance, the book of Ephesians chapter Six referred to in our passage for further reading tells us
severally about the warfare we are constantly engaged in, urging us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are reminded that this war is not necessarily "against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places" (Ephesians 6:12). For this reason, we are instructed to put on the whole armour
of God.
But few realise that in the battle between God and Satan, in the contest between the forces of light and darkness, there is no middle position. You are either for God or you are against Him.
You are either a destroyer or a promoter of the works of darkness.
There is nothing like being neither for nor against in this matter. If you do not declare for God, you have already declared for Satan. If you have not pledged your allegiance to the Lord, it is reckoned that you are working for the devil to destroy the purposes of God.
According to The Message translation of the Scriptures, Jesus puts it so bluntly, that
in this war, "there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse”.
Let us address quickly two immediate implications of the above. First is that you must decide on which side you want to be and immediately take your stand. If you have decided to be on the Lord's side, declare it and cross over at once. Moses announced tothe children of Israel,
"Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me". And the Bible says all the sons of Levi not only made up their minds and
declared their stand for the Lord, they took practical steps by gathering themselves
together unto Moses (Exodus 32:26). You cannot claim to have decided for the Lord and yet stand aloof from His presence. You
cannot claim to be on the Lord's side and keep away from His house. If you claim to
be on the Lord's side and your closest and best companions are those who are not on the Lord's side, something is awfully wrong.
The second immediate implication is that since a decision for the Lord is a decision against Satan, those who have so decided
must urgently equip themselves to stand against the wiles of the devil.
That is the central point of Ephesians chapter Six. Moses told the children of
Levi, if you are on the Lord's side, the next thing to do is to get your sword! (Exodus 32:27). If you are on the Lord's side, get
equipped with the weapons of warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Get fortified through the
word of God and the energy that the Holy Spirit provides so that you do not become
a casualty in life's spiritual battles.
Thankfully, for those who are on the Lord's side, Jesus Christ has already conquered for us and has given us the victory ahead of every battle we would face. All we need to do is to take our stand in Him.
There is nothing to fear because "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). Hallelujah!
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