This evening, while I was trying to catch up on the Systematic Theology reading I completely forgot about (due Wednesday…YAY! *face palm*) I took a mental break and decided to peruse Instagram.
I’ve posted images with Bible verses on them for a few years now, to try to bring a little positivity to the increasingly negative atmosphere of social media. Through that, and the hashtags I’ve used, I’ve found people I barely know following me on Instagram.
Today a post from one of those people popped up first for me.
The post I first saw is not what motivated me to write this. Instead, it motivated me to take a closer look at the person’s Instagram, and an older post caught my eye. The young woman (who will remain anonymous) posted about something from her past she had chosen to share with a fellow believer, whom she had started a relationship with. What she shared was something very personal and traumatic, but with a beautiful outcome. The response she received was judgment, hatred, anger, confusion…to name a few.
I felt compelled to respond.
I don’t know this person.
We just follow each other on Instagram because of a common interest; belief in God.
But her story hit me like a ton of bricks.
The story was posted on December 17, 2018; The day before my birthday. A birthday that might have never been. I was born to a mom who was not ready for her child and was pressured to abort the bastard child she carried. She chose to carry me to term, much as this young woman did her son. The story differs here, as my mom kept me and raised me—with a lot of help from our extended family and friends. The young woman chose to give up her child to a loving family; one more capable of raising her child. An honorable and very mature choice from a young mother. A choice that brought with it feelings of depression, shame and whole gambit of other emotions.
What struck me was the date of the post; one day before my birthday—a day that might have never come but did because of love, and because God had a plan. What also struck me was that this young woman, new to faith at the time, chose life over the taking of a life. Given the circumstances that led to her pregnancy, she could have easily felt justified in choosing to continue with the abortion she had contemplated. Instead she listened to the still small voice tugging at her heart, Who spoke in the form of her loving and supportive Christian parents.
Many of my friends are pro-choice. I have a very personal reason for being pro-life. I don’t say this for anyone reading to be offended, but it interweaves with my life…so there it is.
As I was responding to the young woman to affirm how precious she is to God, an image came into my head. Inspiration struck, so here I am doing my best to pour that out.
The enemy attacks us even through other Christians. He cannot control those who belong to God, but he can manipulate us against each other. This was the case with the man who spewed hatred at this young woman; this precious, sanctified daughter of the King. He attacks with increasing ferocity when he’s afraid. When God has called us to a great task for His Kingdom, the enemy will throw everything he can at us. He can rain down arrows from every direction. And he will. His only goal is to cause us to fall as he did.
The image that came to mind was from the recent MCU Masterpiece, Avengers: Endgame
If you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame…
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
STOP READING NOW…
In the final battle against Thanos and his legions, there was a point where he called down a barrage from the cannons on his gigantic flag ship. He did so because he was afraid. He was afraid because his armada was being decimated by the Avengers and those standing with them. This barrage would also hit his soldiers—all of whom were expendable to him—but he was most concerned with stopping his greatest threat.
The onslaught would have likely turned the tide for the “bad guys”, but suddenly the cannons abruptly stopped firing and re-aimed at a greater threat from the sky. At first that threat could not be seen. All those on the ground could see was a glow from the clouds. Suddenly the reason for the change in focus appeared on a collision course with the giant ship. Captain Marvel had arrived, and Thanos and his army had a greater reason to be afraid. Thanos watched helplessly as Captain Marvel rammed through the hull his ship and destroyed it.
Picture the devil as Thanos. He attacks with little regard for anyone in the path of his barrage. Even the thrall he throws at believers are willingly sacrificed as collateral damage. But just when it looks like the tide will turn in his favor, the greater threat comes. His gaze is confused and bewildered as he is forced to turn his attention skyward. Picture God as Captain Marvel. God is the devil’s greatest threat. He can throw everything at God, but it counts for nothing. His greatest engine of war against us will be utterly destroyed by God’s mighty hand. He will look on in despair as he realizes that the God has already won.
In the case of the young woman from Instagram she needed to know she was loved, and mightier than she knew. The enemy attacks us when he fears the might of God within us. Instead of fearing or being discouraged by his attacks, we should consider it a compliment. Not because he fears us, but because he fears what God is doing in and through us. He fears the power that flows through us from the Holy Spirit who is within us.
So, to her and anyone reading this, and unsure of the might within you; The might of God…
Let the attacks come. They are an affirmation that God is preparing you for something. Lean into Him Who is greater than the one who is in the world. Let Him sustain you and carry your head high with your sight firmly fixed skyward. The enemy’s sights are there. Let yours be also, and you needn’t fear any of his attacks.
The Random Musings of a Nerdy Christ Follower 