Jan 11 - Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,

for by doing that some have entertained

angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

This passage begs the question: How active is heaven in our day-to-day world?

Other passages – like Ephesians 6:12 – prompt an equally important question (though pointed in the exact opposite direction): How active is hell and demonic influences in our day-to-day world?

Let me address the interpretation at each extreme end of the spectrum first.

•      Some “good church-going Christians” see only naturalistic explanations for everything. Naturalistic means “of this world.” Thus, angels and demons are mostly myth … or historic … or reserved for only old Bible stories or some future time in heaven. Thus, because they are “not-of-this-world,” they are definitely not a day-to-day reality.
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•      On the other side, are other good church-going Christians who see angels and demons behind every bush. Every positive happenstance involves at least an angel (if not a powerful orchestration from God himself), while every negative trial involves a demon.

Does it surprise you that I’m not sure either extreme is correct? In fact, each has dangerous flaws …

•      Regarding the second extreme, if we expect every action to have an angelic or demonic component, we sometimes short-change the human role outcomes our world – especially in the negative outcomes in our world. For example, we humans don’t need much demonic influence to create our own messes!
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•      The first extreme, however, is even worse. It’s usually a deceitful ideology that makes God smaller than he really is or tries to eliminate the role of the spiritual in our daily lives.

More of the world flocks to this first – and deadening – extreme. We’re largely a naturalistic society that demands scientific explanation, cheapens faith, and routinely explains God and wonder away.

So today I want to conclude by pulling the pendulum a little farther in the direction of seeing our world more spiritually …

     Allowing for a little more supernatural involvement can make the world a much more exciting – even more harrowing – place in which to live.

•      If good and evil do exist, then daily we’re on the battle lines!
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•      Day-by-day – and sometimes even moment-by-moment – we must fight for right.
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•      Every decision matters.
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•      Life is not a purposeless routine, it’s a daily and hallowed adventure.
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•      God is real, and the consequences are real.
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•      Be a part of the fight for victory and light!

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’ll passionately

live on the battlefront