By Paul Alberts
Dictionary.com defines “opposition” as “the action of opposing, resisting, or combating; antagonism or hostility.” This implies something that is the work of an enemy. Certainly, there are many enemies of God, the Lord Jesus Christ and His people. They follow the direction of their leader: Satan. Sadly, many of the individuals whom he uses for his purposes are deceived: ignorant of the truth and what honors God – all of which is readily found in the Bible for those who take the time to read it.
We are thankful when we hear stories of any who come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Up to that point they have all been in opposition to Christ, for Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Mt. 12:30 NKJV). Often, what God used to bring them, and us, to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus was the faithfulness of one or two Christians. Is God using you – or are you allowing God to use you – for the eternal blessing of another?
The Lord Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust … Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Mt. 5:43-45,48). In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse … Repay no one evil for evil … As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (12:14,17-21).
Obviously our attitude today is not to destroy the enemies, but it is to weep for those who “are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction” (Phil. 3:18-19).