Almost Right…
I have a love/hate relationship with multiple choice tests. There are usually 4 choices for an answer, and unless otherwise indicated, there is only one correct answer. Usually the way it operates is this; there is one answer that is wrong and one that is simply absurd. The issue occurs with the other 2 choices. Of the other 2 choices, one is correct and the other-well the other is there to trip us up. The other answer is almost right. The person who prepares the test has to be so clever, as to make sure that the almost right answer is presented in a way that only those who have studied will know the difference.
The problem is this-choosing the almost right answer will cause you to miss the mark on that question. Almost right is still not right. Almost right is the wrong answer.
This is how the enemy tries to trick us. Many of us are seasoned enough to know the difference between right and wrong. You have to be going out of your way to sin if you choose the wrong when presented with both options. The enemy knows that we know better, so what does he (or she) do? The enemy presents us with the almost right option.
Recently, I encountered an almost right situation. Man, it sure did feel right. Someone I am associated with was using their gifts in a way that can only cause confusion in the body of Christ. When I tell you that it upset me! It was the kind of thing that could bring division and further to that, it could personally hurt someone that I stand on the frontlines for. I spent my day readying for war! To make matters worse, I had my Sword! The Word of God!
2 Corinthians 11: 14-15 tells us that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light and those that do his bidding are disguised just the same! I could CLEARLY see through the disguise of the one that was causing confusion. I was armed and ready!
Here is the problem.
That option was the almost right answer. It was the distraction. The right answer was for me to pray and let God fight. You see, as much as it hurt me…and still does hurt me, the battle is not mine to fight, it is God’s.
I have intentionally left my blog postings undated as to keep them fresh for you; but as I write, our world is in the midst of a storm. This Covid-19/Coronavirus situation has us physically, emotionally, financially, mentally and spiritually spent! We are all EXHAUSTED!! God has positioned me to remain on the frontlines-continually praying and using my gifts to uplift and encourage those who come into contact with me through my words. On that day, while I was preparing for a battle that was not mine to fight, I was doing none of what I was commissioned to do. The almost right answer was for me to go to war for the Kingdom, but the right answer was for me to continually petition the face and the presence of God.
In Mark 13:33 Jesus said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is.” While I was preparing myself for battle, I had a friend who needed me to pray. I am usually so tuned in to these things, but not that day. I had no space to let God speak to me about what I should pray for because I was so busy trying to fight-a righteous fight, but not mine; His.
In Luke 18, using His special way of teaching, Jesus offered up a parable cautioning us to “pray and not to faint.” In that parable found in verses 2-8, Jesus tells a story about a judge who avenged a widow just because she was persistent in asking him for help. Jesus used that parable to show that if the unrighteous judge would avenge a widow, what more would a righteous God do for us? It is God who fights! We must do what verse 1 of Luke 18 says…we ought to always pray and not grow weary in doing so.
When I was ready to fight for the Kingdom against those that sought to cause confusion…it was all for what I perceived to be righteous reasons. But it wasn’t my fight and so even though it looked right, it was not. I got it almost right. When we are being tested, the almost right response is wrong; therefore, that is a test I did not pass.