Secure? True or False?

I have been mulling over a portion I read yesterday during my devotional time.  Judges 8:10-11 reads, "Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. ¹¹ And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure."  To set the scene, God gave Gideon and his 300 men a miraculous victory over the Midianite army where 120,000 died.  The remaining 15,000 men and kings Zebah and Zalmunna fled with Gideon and the 300 in hot pursuit.  Though Gideon and the 300 were weary, they killed all who remained of the Midianite army and took captive their kings.

The part of the scripture which leapt off the page was the final statement:  Gideon "...smote the host:  for the host was secure."  These 15,000 felt secure because they had managed to escape the sword of the Lord and of Gideon.  They fled far away and thought the danger was past.  Perhaps they spent the evening drinking, took off all their armor, lay down to sleep without watchmen, or threw down their weapons in a pile.  The Bible does not specifically say.  But we do know they did not expect an attack and felt secure.  And because they did not figure on fighting they all ended up dying.  There is a strong warning in this passage for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

There is no doubt of the shift in modern times in the presentation and teaching of the Gospel.  The preaching in churches during the centuries has gone though a perpetual cycle.  Man has always labored to present the Gospel with proper balance.  Some preach grace and ignore the necessity of works, while others preach works and cheapen grace.  We struggle to balance the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.  Church tradition, denominational lines, culture, and personal experience all weave together a worldview which defines belief.  Even in a "nondenominational" church, this is often the case.  If I grew up in a church that never preached from the Bible and saw the danger of that, I would be careful to emphasize true biblical doctrine.  I might even shy away from topical studies.  If your experience is one of casting off the yoke of oppressive legalism, you would naturally focus on the freedom we have in Christ instead of the need for good works.

One of the aspects focused upon today by many is the positional security we have in Christ.  People will regurgitate what have become common catchphrases:  "If you believe in Jesus, you're heaven-bound!  No one, not even the devil can snatch you out of His hand!  Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ!"  I used these phrases carefully, and every one has been taken out of context to prove a point.  As a person who has read the whole counsel of God and grown in maturity, I know that repentance is a requirement for salvation.  I know that there is such a thing as apostasy, and that we can refuse to receive the love Christ has for us.  But a new believer?  He does not understand these statements and they can be very dangerous because they bring with them a false sense of security.  He believes he is safe and secure.  He does not recognize he has an enemy who is constantly accusing, condemning, and plotting his overthrow.

If Satan can lull us to sleep as Delilah did to Samson on her knees, he can render us powerless, bind, blind, and enslave us.  The truth is, though we are positionally secure in Jesus Christ we can still be under attack!  That is why Christians are called to be sober and watchful, putting on the whole armor of God.  It is Jesus who says in Matthew 26:41:  "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  The implication is that if we do not watch and pray, we will enter into temptation willingly!  Our flesh is weak.  Though we are born again by grace through faith and our salvation is secure in Christ, Satan would like nothing more than to paralyze us in sin, ruin our witness, bombard us with doubts and disillusionment, and make us an ally to draw others away from God!  As much as we emphasize our positional security in Christ Jesus, we need to make clear our responsibilities to honor God in daily living.

I would never have known I was in a spiritual battle unless God told me through His Word and raised my awareness through the Holy Spirit.  The natural man is blind to spiritual things.  Paul exhorts in Ephesians 6:10-11:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil ."  Unless we put on the whole armor of God, we will not be able to stand against the wiles of the devil!  He is as powerful as he is crafty, and he rages against God and His people with ferocity.  But as Samson ripped apart the lion which roared against him in the vineyard, God will help us to stand in the day of attack.  We are to flee from youthful lusts, but we never run from Satan!  Satan nor his demons should not frighten us, for love in Christ casts out all fear.  We have the authority in Christ to stand against him, and to that end we must be watchful and vigilant as we stand upon Christ and His promises.

If you knew there was a lion loose in your community, you would take caution to protect yourself and your children.  How much more deadly is temptation and sin which leads to eternal death?  Is it possible we are lax in our conduct and discipline because we do not see the need?  Since our security in Christ (though true!) is a note often harped upon, this has led to a level of complacency and apathy in the church never before seen. There is no security worse than a false security.  People went on the maiden voyage of the Titanic thinking it was an unsinkable ship.  We all know the tragedy that followed.  If a man is duped into thinking, "I'm saved, glad that's over - now I can get on with my life" God help us!  Sound the trumpet, for we are in a battle!  Instead of being entangled with things of this world, let us be watchful and pray.  Victory is promised to the obedient!