Hold The Line

There is a scene in the movie "Braveheart" where the Scottish clans that William Wallace has managed to piecemeal together to stand against the much larger army of King Edward I (Edward Longshanks) are all lined up, one army facing the other.  As the smaller army faces off against their much larger and much better armored foe, Longshanks' cavalry begins their approach to the frontline of Wallace's army, none of whom are on horses.  Wallace has no cavalry and his entire army is on foot.  As Longshanks' cavalry advances, Wallace and his faithful army stand their ground, unmoved, as Wallace simply shouts to his soldiers, "Hold!"  As Longshanks' cavalry picks up speed in their advance, Wallace again shouts to his army to "Hold!"  The cavalry begins to gallop toward Wallace and those standing with him who make up the small but faithful front, and again Wallace shouts, "Hold!"  As Longshanks' cavalry gallops forward, they lower their long, 10-14 foot lances toward Wallace's steady front line and again, Wallace tells them, "Hold!"  Only when Longshanks' advancing cavalry is so close that it looks like Wallace's front line is about to be decimated by the knights on horseback and their lances, does Wallace lead his men to pick up sharpened spears from the ground that are longer than the cavalry's lances and impale the advancing cavalry line and their horses on them.  Wallace's strategy against his enemy was timed perfectly.

Because Wallace's smaller army held the line and did not fall back, they were able to deal a deathblow to Longshanks' cavalry.  Unfortunately, Wallace suffered defeat in this particular battle and he also found out something devastating:  some of those who were supposed to be on his side turned out to be traitors.  But because one of those traitors saw the devastation of his treachery among his brethren, he vowed to never be on the wrong side again and was later instrumental in leading Scotland to independence from England.

I think one of the most devastating things about the end times, will be when God begins to widen the gap between light and dark which inevitably results in revealing the traitors among those of us who call themselves by Christ's name.  Those whom the Apostle John says "went out from among us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us" but their departure from truth makes it clear that "they are not all of us" (1 John 2:19).  Jesus tells us in the Parable of the tares among wheat that both will be allowed to grow together until the end of the age when "the Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire" (Matt 13:41,42).  Psalm 91 tells us that a thousand will fall on one side of us and ten thousand on another side, but we will only observe their falling away because we have made the Lord God our refuge (91:7-9).  And make no mistake, Jesus is God and anyone who does not acknowledge that fact, does not have the Father (1 John 2:23).  Psalm 91 says, "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.'"  The Name of the Lord is Jesus Christ (Phil 2:8-10).

The enemy hates exposure.  That is why he works through deceit and he has been working for thousands of years to weave together the pieces of his masterpiece of deception in the end days.  He must have as many people deceived and lukewarm as he can before God exposes him for what he truly is.  Paul teaches us that in the time of the end, the lawless one will be revealed and exposed for the hideous liar he truly is and those who continue to follow him will do so simply because they do not love the truth (2 Thess 2:10).

In the days ahead, as God pulls back that which is restraining the full cavalry charge of the enemy against those who make up the faithful front line of the followers of Christ, we must hold.  Even though it will appear that the odds against us are ridiculously in the favor of the enemy, we must hold.  Even though the reach of Satan's spear is long and even though his army may be on horses and we simply stand on foot, we must hold.  Even though the enemy increase his advance into a gallop, we must hold.  Brothers and sisters, we must hold that line even at the cost of our own lives.  We must hold that line even when we find out the traitors among us.  We must hold that line, hold that line, hold that line, we must stand firm on the word of God, we must stand firm on the promises of Christ, we must stand firm in our faith that He Who is in us is greater than he who is in the world who charges toward us at a gallop with lances and spears.  We must hold that line without compromise and without shrinking back in fear.  We must hold that line for our King, until He returns and raises up the banner of God against the dragon and slays Him with the brightness of His coming and the breath of His mouth (2 Thess 2:8).  What I say to you, I say to all those who are so utterly devoted to Christ that they do not "love their life even when faced with death" (Rev 12:11)-- "Hold in Christ Jesus alone!"

Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... (2 Cor 4:7-9)

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Tim 4:1)

False prophets rose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words (2 Pet 2:1-3)

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. (Hab 2:3,4)

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation (2 Pet 3:9-15)