POSSIBLY, you have often heard people use the word enemies, and know that its meaning is, those who are not friends. Some of you may have noticed that it is a word frequently found in the Bible, where it commonly refers to the haters of God and of His people. In one very remarkable case, occurring seven times in Scripture, it refers particularly to those who oppose God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Are there such persons, then?’ Without doubt there are, and multitudes of them. Such were they who cruelly nailed Him to Calvary’s cross; but of His friends were they who sadly laid Him in the rock-hewn tomb. There is no middle class, as Jesus Himself said;
“He that is not with Me is against Me.” Now, when the enemies of Jesus had done their worst, and His friends had done their best, God put forth His mighty power, and gloriously raised Jesus from the dead, saying to Him,
“Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
Accordingly we learn that, forty days after His resurrection, “He was received up into heaven,” and “sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.” Jesus is sitting and expecting still; but while thus patiently waiting, He is wanting His enemies to become His friends. Obedience to His word makes us His friends.
“Ye are My friends,” He says, “if ye do whatsoever I command you.” And to those who obey Him, He is the Author of eternal salvation all the time that He is “expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.” Soon the “expecting” will be over.
“God has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” Then will the enemies of Jesus be made His footstool, and then will His friends be made joyful in glory.
Are you a friend, or an enemy of Jesus?
ML 11/09/1924