POSTED 19 OCTOBER, 2004

Age Old Conflict

by Mark Huey
mhuey@outreachisrael.net

In the next fortnight, the people of the United States are going to have the opportunity to decide the course of the world for the immediate future, through the beleaguered electoral process. To me, this is a frightening reality when you consider the stark differences between the two directions currently being offered on the political landscape. Now more than ever, Believers are witnessing the fact that “politics” is indeed the epitome of conflict.

But I would ask you to look at things from our Creator’s point of view. The struggle being orchestrated daily, between the innate forces of good and evil—that plague the fallen hearts of human beings—is to be expected. This dialectic is as ancient as the Garden expulsion, when man was banished to choose from two opposing sources for conducting his life. Ever since that time, God’s plan for His Creation has been proceeding according to His schedule, regardless of the machinations of the enemy and/or fallen man.

I hope that as a people of faith, illumined by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, that you will have an enlightened understanding about how God operates. But this, in and of itself, can be very sobering. If you view the dynamics of the world from an eternal point of view, you just might conclude that judgment for our society is long overdue.

It has been over forty years since our country, initially founded on Judeo-Christian principles, decided to ban prayer and the displaying of the Ten Commandments in our public schools. Over thirty years ago, the Supreme Court legalized the wholesale murder of innocent life. Today, over fifty million who have perished are certainly crying out for justice from their premature graves. The freefall declension in ethics and morality has been well documented beyond statistics, indicating the majority acceptance of a society—whether realizing it or not—desiring severe decay. But do not be discouraged, because the One we serve is still in control. Ultimately, His will is going to be accomplished and true righteousness will be brought to the Earth. The problem we must individually and collectively come to terms with, though, is simply this: Are we spiritually ready for the results, no matter what direction He chooses to steer us?

In recent weeks, I have had the privilege of meeting a wide variety of souls that come from many diverse cultures and backgrounds in a microcosmic workplace in middle America Orlando. I have had a tremendous opportunity to search the hearts and minds of those I have met and co-labored with in mundane tasks. While always seeking to permeate the spirits of these individuals, I have concluded that given these circumstances, it has been my personal responsibility to be a light of truth while interceding for them. I have considered every pairing a providential encounter to be salt and light, among many who believe they deserve everything that life has to offer, and are at least willing to work for it.

However, as an entrepreneurial person who has walked by faith for now over twenty-six years, I find that my worldview and understanding of how life works are often at odds with my new acquaintances. The age-old dilemma of “worker versus management” has come into focus frequently. I can now begin to empathize with the complaints of the worker, while already understanding because of personal experience, the concerns of management/ownership. I do not believe that I will be given any revolutionary solutions to labor-management challenges, but I have concluded that the capitalistic model, however flawed, is certainly superior to the socialistic and communistic models that have developed in the past few hundred years. At the very least, in a society that embraces personal liberty, the citizen-workers have a choice as to how to conduct their lives.

However, those same citizens also have the right to choose in a democratic governmental system, which can lead them into the yet uncharted waters of the future. It is in making these choices that a faithful person must pause to consider the overwhelming evidence of Scripture that we base our lives and decisions upon. Since it is clear from God’s Word that the world will inevitably embrace a one world economic, governmental, and religious system that will be diametrically opposed to Him—no matter what we do and what we want in terms of personal preferences, will be overruled by this ultimate end result.

As I ponder these thoughts and questions, I am reminded that our Savior was not exactly elated with the dreadful work He was required to fulfill at the cross, in order to accomplish the will of His Father and atone for the sins of humanity. Yet knowing that the Father had a long-range plan, which included the bloody sacrifice of His Son, was a task that Yeshua willingly chose to submit to. While not trying to sound fatalistic, I believe it is the absolute responsibility of each citizen-saint to not only exercise his or her voting rights, but also intercede incessantly for our leaders and our fellow countrymen. I have deep concerns about how we—specifically as Messianic Believers—will react when receiving the results of the election of November 3, no matter what the outcome. I especially have deep concerns for those who will react negatively, yet who did not participate in the process.

This is the challenge that we all must concern ourselves with as we watch and participate in the struggle—not only with choosing between apparent good and evil—but most assuredly interact with God Himself, who controls all things. As the author of Hebrews reminds us,

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Since God knows the plans He has for us—which include a hope and a future—He is ultimately going to place in leadership the person or party that best suits His purposes and will for the hour:

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile’” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

Just like in ancient times, when the Jewish people were banished to Babylon for a seventy-year exile, the Almighty used that traumatic period to solidify the foundation of the faithful when they witnessed and participated in His restorative process back to the Promised Land.

In the coming weeks, when His will is accomplished—no matter what is determined—we will still be held accountable for our personal walks of faith to rest in Him and share the hope that is within us with whomever we encounter. Perhaps in some oblique way, He is using all of these dynamics to make us more like our Messiah Yeshua, who endured unbelievable hardships for us that we might attain salvation, and also know Him in a more profound way. As Paul states his desire,

“[T]hat I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).

Let us be found worthy to attain to what Paul desired, that will undoubtedly outlive the governmental choices and the age-old dilemma that continues to wretch our souls.

Until the restoration of all things…

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.