Aiding And Abetting

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Two armies occupy the terrain.  One faces the other from one side of a large valley.  This army is mostly defensive in nature and orderly in its ranks.  The banners fly high and clear with the King standing in the forefront of the Heavenly Host, troops of every imaginable kind arrayed at His back.  There are three divisions of the Heavenly Host; the medical, airborne, and cavalry divisions.  There is one other division; an infantry division of saints.  The army stands mostly in order because, at the present time, every division is at the ready except one, the infantry division.  The infantry is standing in the breach between the Heavenly Host and the other army.  At least they are mostly standing.  The ranks of infantry seem to weave and move while the otherwise sharp lines have become indistinct and fluid.  The perceptible edges of the formation have an element of ebb and flow to it.  The formation appears to leak and absorb saints in a constant cycle.  Yet, this army of God is without doubt resolute in appearance and purpose.

The other army in contrast has only a small element of order.  Looking closely at the melee of dark denizens and stained humanity is frustrating to the methodical mind.  There is no order!  It is a vast mob fighting with itself and occasionally foraying out to engage the saints.  Some engagements leave the saints victorious while others leave devastation.  The only apparent order to be found in the dark army is in the very rear echelons where the Deceiver resides.  About the commander are the inhuman Fallen.  The Fallen go about enticing fighting and feuding amongst their lost ranks.  Their aim is not to win, but to stall.  They know that with every foray into the fight with the saints their cause loses.  Whenever they win or suffer loss some of their own troops flock to the other side.  For now they intend to continue keeping the fight among lost humanity.  Strangely there can be spied individual, groups, and whole bands of saints moving about in and among the enemy formation.  Many, usually in groups of one or two, move about with life giving water for the enemy wounded and sow seeds of the Gospel of Christ.  Others engage in the internal fighting and determine to destroy or harm their brothers in arms.  These roving saints exhibit the aggressive and chaotic nature of their enemy to include foraying out against their own! 

Wounded saints walk about, sit, or lie pierced, cut, and maimed by temptation, carnality, and rebellion.  These adulterous saints have set out on a treasonous course.  Backsliding suddenly looks far worse than simply losing spiritual ground.  They haven’t only lost ground but have allied themselves with the wrong side.  Their pride causes them to refuse a cry of ready help and certain restoration.  Each one lies silent, their sin stitching a close pattern of defiance across their lips.  This saint is an enemy of God who once was friend.

What is that ready cry?

Abba, Father!

Luke 15:21-24