Taking Sides

 

“Sir, 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.”—Abraham Lincoln

I have heard it said many times, often in a somber, frowning tone:

“God is not on anyone’s side.”

“God does not play favorites.”

“You need to be on His side, not Him on yours.”

I have heard Abe Lincoln’s quote over and over again used as proof for all of that.

Except I don't think that's what Abe meant.

Because my Bible also says this:

“If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say—if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us…” (Psalm 124:1)

God IS on someone’s side!

“Yes, but Israel is God’s chosen people, of course He’s going to take their side.”

Except even God’s chosen people have a choice who they will follow and trust to guide their lives. He is on their side, as Abe says, under one condition—when they put their trust and hope in God alone, no matter the outcome, circumstance or situation. And that’s why these ancient travelers to Jerusalem could say this shock-and-awe statement, because they also declare:

“Our help is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!” (Psalm 124:8)

And no one else. And no other option.

“Yes, but things don’t always go well. What about when there are, say, Christians on one team and Christians on another—someone has to win and lose—then whose side is God on?”

He is not on the side of teams, He is on the side of the Believers, regardless of their team or mission or organization, regardless of the outcome—for reasons well beyond a fleeting game-of-the-week.

When our help and hope is in the Name of the Lord, the same can be true for us even in crazy 2020, A very familiar passage explodes with fresh Light:

“We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory. So what should we say about all of this?

If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear?

If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him?”—Romans 8:28-32, Voice

Maybe not everything perfect, not everything pleasant, or not everything the way we want things to turn out, But always, always when our help and hope is in the Name of the Lord, He is on our side to carry us through…whatever. And one day, that carry-through will mean no more tears, no more death, no more hatred and injustice, no more fear.

Our help is in the Name of the Lord!

The Name of the Lord! 

But what is His Name?…

“‘Listen! The virgin shall conceive a child! She shall give birth to a Son, and He shall be called “Emmanuel” meaning God is with us.”

—Matthew 1:23, Living

Nothing could be more “on our side” than that.