In this place

Abraham Lincoln had perhaps one of the most 'grounded' perspectives on how he was to live: "...my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." To be 'on God's side' is maybe one of the most significant steps a man or woman can take in their lifetime. There are many who 'report' they are on his side - but when you examine their actions, the testimony of their words doesn't match the evidence of their life! The two always much match up. We debate more about if God is on our side, forgetting entirely that we need to place ourselves squarely on his side with each decision we make in life.

If God is for us, who can be against us? He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need? (Romans 8:31-32)

When we are not clearly on his side, we are actually standing against him. Unfortunately, when we are standing against him, we are not on the 'right side' in life! Many times we seek what is right, find what is 'sort of right', and settle in there to live our days doing what is 'sort of right'. The problem is that there is no 'sort of right' in God's economy. There is either right or wrong. Some may ask about all the stuff we 'could do', but scripture doesn't say much about it, or anything at all. For example, scripture doesn't tell us to not smoke cigarettes, but it does tell us to take care of the 'temple' we are given (our bodies). So, even though scripture doesn't say 'thou shalt not smoke', it does tell us to be wise stewards of the body we are given. Right is never unclear - it is always in alignment with scripture because scripture is God's living and breathing testimony!

I daresay our country is riddled with a great many who 'fly the banner' of being a Christian - going to church on Sunday and having a Bible on their bookshelf. The words from their mouth even sound a little like 'Christian' words, but the evidence of their life choices tells us something quite different. As Lincoln said, God is clearly on our side - how is it we give 'evidence' that we are fully on his? Lincoln also reminds us, "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." What does your 'place' say about you? Are you making life choices that God will view as things that make him proud, for God lives in 'this place'? Just askin!