Friend or Foe?

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Romans 5:9-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.5.9-10.NLT

Friend or Foe?

We use to play soldier games when I was younger. I grew up in the days of the original G.I. Joe and transformers cartoons where it was about a group with integrity and honor doing battle against a group with evil intentions.

One of the things we would do when playing was stand watch and ask “Friend or Foe” if anyone approached our guard post. Now, you didn’t ask this expecting an enemy to actually respond with the word “Foe”, because the enemy is a liar if you are the good guy. The enemy believes that it is okay to lie,  cheat,  steal,  and kill as long as it furthers his agenda. ( Reminds me of the written tenets of our enemies even today. )

We didn’t just trust the word that was spoken in return,  we examined it – the inflection,  the way that it was said, the accent,  etc. – in our world of make believe, we were being a diligent and discerning soldier. We also closely watched the person’s behavior to see if it matched our training – because our true friends would all be working towards those same goals of honor and integrity,  while our enemies had other desires in their hearts.

And if someone didn’t pass the “smell test”, we didn’t just accept the answer of their lips, we inquired deeper in order to determine whether or not this truly was a friend or enemy. And we did that because of the risk of letting an enemy into our midst unchecked – the danger of letting an enemy in to show discord and dissent within the team of true friends who were united in purpose and direction.

I wonder today how many of us are truly friends of God? How many of us know to cry out Lord, Lord when we get to the gates, hoping He will let us in, but we don’t have much interest when it comes to being His friend today, now, in the c way we walk?

I wonder how many of us, if we really look at ourselves closely,  will pass the “smell test”? Does your life smell like the rotten trash and death of the sin you have been rolling around in, or does it smell like the clean garments you have been given? Does your life smell like the sulfur of the demons you have been partying with, or like the sweet aroma of the annointing of God upon your life calling you to be a disciple,  ac student,  a follower of Christ?

And if we and our brothers and sisters cannot pass our own smell test, do we think that we will fool an all knowing and all seeing God who knows and weighs the desires of our hearts?

But that liar will tell you – don’t worry, God is forgiving, God gives mercy,  you don’t have to worry about your sin. Yes,  He knows how to twist the Word of God in order to tickle your itchy ears. Christ didn’t die on the cross for you to remain conformed to this world – grace is not extended so you might continue in your hellish ways. Fear God and repent,  for He is a merciful God if you are seeking Him as a friend – but it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a righteous and just God if you have no intent of being faithful and instead choose to play the whore and the traitor, running after those things you truly desire more v than God.

And He is merciful and He does extend grace for those who repent and who are truly interested in walking in the same purpose and intent together as a team of friends working to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven. Yes, this is a beautiful picture of His Kingdom warriors,  of His true children,  of His friends. Not only do they want inside the gates,  they want what He wants.

So I ask you,  friend,  are you Friend or Foe?

And do not be offended if I look past the word that comes from your mouth,  because I don’t even trust my own answer. I examine myself daily to prove myself in the faith and not confirmed to this world. I am not a friend of this world, I am a friend of Christ, a friend of God. I will not be swayed from my purpose and intent,  nor will I abandon my post until relieved.

I did not earn my position by merit or by works, but by faith in His grace and mercy. Faith that results in a relationship with my friend,  the Lord. And it is this friendship that means everything. But don’t just trust every voice in your head,  don’t just trust every spirit,  test it against the Word of God so that you can know who you are truly choosing as your friend.

May you find and know friendship with God through the love and mercy and grace extended through Jesus Christ, His Son,  God come in the flesh to save you and me and the world, friend.