Traitors To The Kingdom of Darkness!
No one admires a traitor. The very word brings feelings of disgust. A traitor is one who betrays an allegiance–one who betrays a trust. Who admires that?
But the issue is not quite as simple as that line of reasoning makes it appear. In fact, I would suggest that there can be an admirable side to defection. The judgment depends on the vantage point of the observer. The name “Benedict Arnold” is for Americans synonymous with “rogue,” but for some of our neighbors across the pond he was a model of courage and righteousness. The real issue is which side is in the right.
Let me switch from politics to religion. To the Jews Paul was a traitor, but to his Christian brethren he was the consummate apostle of Christ, a spiritual giant! When it comes to spiritual matters, transferring allegiance to the “right” side is always an admirable act of courage that often involves suffering and sometimes eventuates in physical death, whereas transferring allegiance to the wrong side is an act of cowardice that often avoids suffering but always eventuates in spiritual death.
Reading the initial chapters of the Epistle of (Paul & Luke??) to the Hebrews this morning, I was struck by the writers’ numerous appeals to their audience that they not defect. Such a move would amount to an act of betrayal almost as despicable, and surely as deadly, as that of Judas himself. In lofty, powerful, unequivocal terms the writers lay out the majestic supremacy of Jesus in the hope that this will convince their audience that defection from faith in Christ would be sheer lunacy. And they are surely right!
The example of Demas (one of Paul’s co-workers whom he includes as sending greetings to Philemon) is chilling, for in his final letter Paul wrote: “Demas deserted me, because he loved the present age . . . ” (2 Timothy 4:10).
Blessed are those who have turned TRAITORS to the kingdom of darkness–who have taken a stand for Christ–who have pledged allegiance to God and His kingdom. May God help all of us to remain faithful to Him to the END! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
