Who is on the Lord’s side?

David Eldridge

As Moses came down from Mt. Sinai and saw the golden calf that the children of Israel had erected under the leadership of Aaron, his anger was aroused. Moses, seeing the people’s sin, makes a call to action. He says, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side — come to me!” (Exodus 32:26) The sons of Levi respond to this call and Moses orders them to go through the camp and slay every man they come in contact with. This resulted in the death of about 3,000 of the Israelites. There is much to be learned from these verses about those on the Lord’s side. To be on the Lord’s side means to…

Obey God. Notice in Exodus 32:27 Moses says the purging of sin from the camp is the command of God. Those on the Lord’s side went about this unpleasant task in obedience to God. Those on the Lord’s side see the great need to obey the commandments of God. It is through this that we show our allegiance to Him. There is also great reward in so doing. John said by revelation, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). Obedience is necessary for without it one will not see a Heavenly home. To be on the Lord’s side is to obey God.

Take Action. The people of God are a people of action! Many say they are on the Lord’s side but do not show it in their lives. Paul said, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). Some sit on the sidelines and watch the battle rage between good and evil without so much as lifting a finger in service. However, if we want to be well-pleasing in the eyes of God we must not only say we are on the Lord’s side, but we must show that we are on His side by our righteous actions. Paul, to such an end, encourages us to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58). To be on the Lord’s side is to take action in His service.

Be Loyal. In noticing what the sons of Levi did as those on the Lord’s side, we see they killed their brothers, companions, and neighbors (Exodus 32:37). This shows their loyalty to God came before their earthly relationships – both friendships and kinship. Those on the Lord’s side today will be fiercely loyal to Him, putting obedience to Him above all other relationships on this earth. Jesus spoke of this in Luke 14:26. He says, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” It is not that the Lord wants us to detest our family, rather that we must be loyal to Him above any other – whether it is family or friend. Those on the Lord’s side are those loyal to Him above any other.

Stand against evil. A great evil had been performed in the camp of the Israelites when they made an idol and forsook God. Those on the Lord’s side responded to the call and stood against evil. It is not enough for us to simply abstain from evil. We must hate and reprove those things against the Lord to be found on His side. In Ephesians 5:11 Paul said it this way, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” There is much evil that abounds today, just as there was back then. As those on the Lord’s side we must stand against evil that it might be defeated. We are in a battle and we must fight (cf. Ephesians 6:12)! Stand against evil that you might be able to say as Paul “I have fought the good fight…henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” To be on the Lord’s side is to take a firm stand against evil.

Gain the victory. Those on the Lord’s side will gain the victory. Though we face a powerful enemy and his armies we shall overcome and be rewarded (I Peter 5:8). Remember, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Also, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). If we fight for the Lord, not a single enemy can stand and we will receive the reward befitting a soldier of the cross– Heaven. Those on the Lord’s side gain the victory for their dedication.

We must realize we are either on the side of our Lord or the side of Satan. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). Again we find, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Are you God’s friend through obedience (John15:14) or His enemy and the friend of Satan? The only way to be on the Lord’s side is the way outlined above. Whose side are you on?