The Resistance

The following video clip from the 1963 movie The Great Escape takes place in occupied France during World War II. The German army is the occupying force and they are enjoying the spoils of war at the expense of the French. There is, however, a small band of freedom fighters known as The French Underground or The Resistance that are fighting back. Their victories are small but they ARE fighting. They ARE resisting. Please watch.

Café Scene - The Great Escape

Do you think something like that could ever happen in this country? Most people would think that's impossible. We're far too civilized these days. And besides, our nation is too strong to be defeated by any army. Well, what if I told you that we are already being "occupied" and our enemy is getting stronger everyday. Need some evidence?

The State of Georgia is demanding that a pastor (Dr, Eric Walsh) turn over his sermon notes to them for investigation. According to the article, which you can read here, "the government was curious about sermons Dr. Walsh delivered on health, marriage, sexuality, world religions, science and creationism. He also preached on what the Bible says regarding homosexuality."

Bible-believing Christians are being persecuted in this country right now. The occupying force is our own government as well as the secular society in which we live. They are the ones removing the Ten Commandments from the courthouse square. They are removing prayer from our schools. They keep trying to remove the name of our God from our money, our schools, and even our sermons. Teachers are being fired because they mention just the "possibility" of creation rather than evolution.

It will get worse.

The time is coming, and has already come, that people will be imprisoned, tortured and killed because of their faith in Christ. It's only a matter of time before that level of persecution comes to THIS country. But it will come.

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been." - Revelation 6:9-11

Persecution of Christians will get worse in this country. Are we ready for it? Are we ready for a fight? Our battle is not with men but rather with darkness. Our weapons are not guns. We will fight with the Word of God and the love that is in our hearts. We WILL prevail. It has been foretold in God's Word. But are we ready for the coming battle?

I heard a new song by one of my favorite bands. Examine the lyrics as you listen to it.

I am a nation, I am a million faces
Formed together, made for elevation
I am a soldier, I won't surrender
Faith is like a fire that never burns to embers
(Who's gonna stand up, who's gonna fight?)
The voice of the unheard
(Who's gonna break these chains and lies?)
Love is the answer
I gotta speak it, believe it, that's how I feel inside
I, I, can't, can't sit here quiet

You can take my heart, you can take my breath
When you pry it from my cold, dead chest

This is how we rise up
Heavy as a hurricane, louder than a freight train
This is how we rise up
Heart is beating faster, feels like thunder
Magic, static, call me a fanatic
It's our world, they can never have it
This is how we rise up
It's our resistance, you can't resist us

Merciful Father, help us to remain strong amidst all the persecution that is to come. Embolden up to preach the Gospel, encourage us to stand and never back down. May we fight to the end; soldiers in your heavenly army. And may of weapon of choice be the same love you gave to us - mercy, compassion, grace. All honor, praise and glory to you, forever and ever. Amen.

The Resistance - Skillet