Dear Young Friend,

If you have indeed given yourself to the Lord, and are seeking to serve Him with all of your heart, there is a word of comfort I would like to give you today: God is for you! As you return to school, or start a new job, know without a shadow of a doubt that God is for you. His eyes are on you, He’s working out things in your behalf, He is against all your soul’s enemies, He’s fighting your battles, He’s on your side.

You see, since the beginning of time, war has been waged between God and the Adversary. This ancient contest–the prize of which is the human soul–is the entire theme of God’s Word. You and I entered this contest quite late in the scheme of things, and we have a great advantage, to have God’s word, and history, so that we can see how God was triumphant in the past. We  can know just how much He loves us, and all He has provided for us, and what he can do for us.

I started this little message with an if–and what a big word it is. It’s important that you and I know that we are on God’s side of this conflict. Just as early as we can in life, we should decide to join the Lord’s army and throw ourselves whole-heartedly into the fight for Truth and Right. And here’s what God says to us who do that: “The Lord is with you, while you be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.”  (II Chronicles 15:2). And Jesus said it like this: “He that is not with me is against me. . .” (Matthew 12:30). He said it in the opposite way as well, “He that is not against us is for us.” (Luke 9:50). So, there’s no neutrality. When Joshua saw the Lord of glory with His sword outstretched, his reaction was, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” The Lord’s answer was, “Nay, but as captain of the Lord’s host am I now come.” The question was, really, not, “Are You for me or for them?” but, “Am I on the right side with You, Captain?” (Joshua 5:13-14).

And what a Captain! Did you ever consider this truth about the Lord of hosts? The power, the might, the armies of millions that are His to command–for you? In your behalf! Against all your soul’s enemies, against all that tempts you and allures you, and assails you! In every conflict, there are more that be with you than with the enemy. (II Chron. 32:7, 8; II Kings 6:16). “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4). Psalm 18 is always awesome to me, as I read and consider what happens on God’s end when I call unto Him for help. What it means for Him to deliver me and rescue me. It is no light thing that God is on my side! Jonathan, while challenging the Philistines in I Samuel 14:6, revealed his confidence in God’s power when he said, “There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” Why, one of God’s host took down 185,000 enemies, for Hezekiah’s sake! (Isaiah 37:36).

So I think of these things when I read Psalm 124. “If it had not the Lord who was on our side–” and he repeats it, with the emphasis being on “THE LORD” This is THE LORD on our side, and if it had not been HIM, look what would have happened to us! We would have been swallowed up, overwhelmed, and covered by the proud waters–BUT GOD–! The snare is broken, and we are escaped!

Do you have a battle today? Do you feel your enemy is just going to get you, no matter how hard you try? Do you feel totally alone and outnumbered? I want you to ask yourself this question: “If God is for me, WHO can be against me?” and think about the WHO. Compare anything or anyone you can think of, to God, and to His might, and to His love and care for you. He is for you, and against pride. He is for you, and against anger. He is for you, and against lust. He is for you, and against self-pity. He is for you, and against fear. He–and all the Heavenly Host–are engaged right now in your soul’s defense. And you may boldly say, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6).

–Angela Gellenbeck