Who Are “They” and What do "They"Want?

Posted : Sunday February 11, 2007 |

A lot of things clamor for our attention these days. If we’re hooked on TV, our eyes and ears are assaulted with what “the ‘They’ people” want us to know. We might have just wanted to sit and watch a wholesome program (we must be dreaming!) after a tough day and, all of a sudden, we find ourselves in a world of questionable values and enticements (now we’re not dreaming!). “They” provide us with everything our hearts desire and even create a hunger for a lot of things we don’t think we really need. “They” are indeed very considerate of our needs and our wants and our weaknesses!

Switch to the internet and look out! “They” are at it again! If we are not careful about the kind of information we wish to know or where we search and if we do not employ safeguards that filter that information, we will enter into a world of deceit and destruction that knows no bounds.

But somewhere along the line, we have bought-into what “They” want us to consume. We may have consumed small portions or even tiny morsels of what has been offered to us because we accepted it along with some apparent good thing. “After all, we have to take the good with the bad, don’t we?” (or so we tell ourselves). And we need to find value in these things since we can’t expect perfection or expect others to totally agree with us. Having done this we are now in a major struggle with how we might navigate as a Christian man or woman in this world of ungodly values and attitudes.

Jesus said, “…I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. This verse has a lot to say about how we are guided and protected in our spiritual walk, just as the Israelites were guided by the cloud of God’s presence in the desert. To run ahead of the cloud or to lag behind the cloud would expose the people to danger. His protection and His guidance were physically available to His people. This verse also comes on the heels of Jesus confronting the scribes and the Pharisees after “they” brought a woman (only the woman and not the man) to Jesus whom “they” caught in the act of adultery. Their whole intent was to have Jesus condemn her and invalidate Himself as God in the flesh who came to save His people. “They” tried to make Him just like them and would use anyone to promote their own agendas which were couched in self righteous platitudes and hypocrisy; their methods had the appearance of noble intent. Hence, Jesus used the phrase, “whitewashed tombs” referring to these same Jewish leaders, the “They” people.

Jesus sees the whole picture; the sin of the woman, the sin of the Jewish leaders and He exposes both to the light of truth. Sin is dealt with, the woman is protected, and “They”(religious leaders) are caught in their own conniving. As the leaders leave the area in embarrassment and defeat, Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more. She is not condemned but forgiven and saved by His grace. Does this encourage you? I hope so!

What does this have to do with our Christian walk, you query? A lot is at stake here. You see, we are often faced with the promotions of the “They” people and we allow them to promote destructive agendas by our silence. We do not stand fast against the onslaught of ungodly values; in fact, we compromise our own spiritual life and those around us by our silence. We walk in both worlds, straddling the fence, staying uncommitted, never challenging, allowing darkness to abide in our thinking and in our hearts and somehow think we will survive and continue to walk with Christ in the light. Now we are really deceived! What is happening, in reality, is we are giving to those who have no desire to walk in the light of Christ the power to dictate how we think and act. We surrender all of our power to fight the enemy by being passive and complacent in the middle of a raging battle.

Listen to Jesus. Stand fast against the evil of this day and do not allow yourself to be moved. Turn away from the “They” agenda, refuse to allow it in your heart and mind. Cry out to the Holy Spirit for Godlike strength and speak the words of Christ to the darkness: “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Matthew 4:10

Paul said, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with the truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 10-17

The battle is real, the stakes are enormous, the armor of God is all we need. Like a small shepherd boy with a smooth stone and a sling shot, we are able to fell the giants of the darkness. Do not give the enemy a foothold! Refuse to be taken in by his wicked schemes.

We should all be encouraged. We have a victorious Lord who has overcome the world and all the “They” people.

May we know the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives! Amen.

Elder Gene McGee