Divided and Cannot Stand

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand."

Mark 3:24-25

When scribes from Jerusalem made light of the miraculous deliverance Jesus wrought when He cast out demons, claiming Jesus cast out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus gave a simple illustration to show how ridiculous and foolish this claim was.  If Satan drove out demons, he would be actively undermining and destroying his own kingdom.  Before too long, he wouldn't have a kingdom, authority or subjects at all!  When a homeowner knows he is being robbed, he will rise and defend his household and property:  he will not gag or tie himself up and sit quietly in a corner.  To bind him requires someone stronger than himself, and Jesus is infinitely more powerful than Satan.

Today I meditated upon the principle Jesus held forth in these verses concerning kingdoms and houses, that if divided against itself they cannot stand.  I used to view "cannot standing" as almost synonymous with "not existing."  This is incorrect.  Considering history and even our present day, it is entirely possible for divided nations and houses to continue in existence.  The nation of Israel at one stage was divided between the north and south, and the nation of Israel remains.  Marriages have been annulled and the couple can continue living in the same house.  Some longstanding nations--perhaps more than any time in history--are filled with people who are more divided against themselves than ever before.  Though divided, nations and groups of people continue to exist.  In a spiritual sense, nations and people can fall long before they cease to exist.

When a person is unable to stand, they remain a person--yet in such a condition they are weak, vulnerable and unable to do much to resist anything.  People who cannot stand are unable to defend themselves or others; they are not able to escape from the danger of fire, run to find help in trouble or raise the alarm.  People who are unable to stand cannot resist the attacks of enemies or prevent themselves from being robbed.  Those who cannot stand will struggle to move, to do profitable labour or serve others.  In the Law of Moses, God described this inability to stand as a result of a curse for their sin in Leviticus 26:37-39:  "They shall stumble over one another, as it were before a sword, when no one pursues; and you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. ³⁸ You shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. ³⁹ And those of you who are left shall waste away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; also in their fathers' iniquities, which are with them, they shall waste away."  Those weak and unable to stand can only wish for better times as they waste away.

What is true concerning kingdoms and households is also true concerning individuals.  As born again followers of Jesus Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand strong in the LORD with hearts united in the fear of God.  Paul exhorted Christians in Ephesians 6:14-18:  "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."  Paul explained the working of the indwelling Spirit in the life of a believer and how He helps and guides us to stand by faith in Jesus.  When we are divided against ourselves by living in sin, believing lies and disobeying our LORD Jesus in unbelief, it is no wonder we cannot stand.