[Christ Our Rock] Cavalry or Calvary? The Picket Prince and His Royal Salvati...

[Christ Our Rock Bible Church]

While on picket duty during a forty-day expedition against the Comanche in the Texas Staked Plains, a Cavalry trooper, in an effort to be ready for a surprise attack, put a lasso on his horse and then tied the rope around himself. He had remarked to a fellow trooper that in this way his horse could not stray during the night. His excessive precaution cost him his life. During the night, an approaching buffalo herd spooked his horse, and it ran away, dragging the sleeping trooper to his untimely death.

But why did the soldier even think of sleeping? He was part of the "picket"—a picket is a watchman, who is supposed to be wakeful in order to be able to warn all the others who slept. Virgil Hurley would agree—"We fall asleep at our tasks by failing to discharge them promptly, if at all, or by giving only half-hearted efforts. And where are our fellow Christians at such a time? The buzz-word in too many congregations is 'unconditional,' not 'accountable.' Unconditional is a comforting word since it erects no standards, imposes no expectations, and makes no demands—and leaves us each to determine when and how much to change. Accountability, on the other hand, rouses us from our spiritual somnolence and stupor, raises expectations for us, and holds us to the high calling of God."

This we see so graphically in Acts 5. Shortly after Ananias and Sapphira fell to the floor dead for lying to God about their level of giving to the church, "great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." (vs. 11) This was followed by a great outpouring of miracles and healing, which the religious authorities abhorred. Praise God—there is a much higher authority! It is true the apostles were imprisoned for their faith, but they didn't stay there long—an angel "secured" their release. For sure, Jesus is that higher authority—Shuang Shuying, an elderly Chinese woman, was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for her Christian faith. In an effort to try to destroy her faith, the Chinese authorities refused to let her see her dying husband—not until he was dead, and then, she could view his lifeless body for ten minutes. After much prayer by their fellow Christians around the world, she was just released and permitted to see her husband—while he was alive! Yes, there is a higher authority!

Once the apostles were rounded up and warned again to not speak of Jesus, Peter responded, "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him." (vss. 29b-32) This "Prince" is used many times to refer to Jesus—both in the Old and the New Testaments. It can stipulate an author, captain, or originator. Peter, in Acts 3, calls Jesus the Prince of Life, in that He was the originator of it—physically, spiritually, and eternally. Right now, let's focus on the double name before us—a Prince and a Savior, and all through the powerful witness of the Holy Spirit.

This dual emphasis is powerful—the princely Savior expresses royalty, which all Israel was looking for in the Messiah. The other, the saving character, is something of which they had lost sight. Oh, sure, they still looked for an anointed one to come and save them, as in deliverance from their enemies, namely the Romans, but being saved from sin was not really the focus of many. Both emphases must be there—a Prince and a Savior! Each of these two features enters into each other, and together they express a magnificent whole—a royal salvation! I think that it is interesting that in our American culture, the Cavalry coming to the rescue is often a picture of human ability, when, spiritually speaking, it is Calvary that defeats our real enemy. Humanly speaking, the "princes" of this world responsible for crucifying the Lord of Glory were the religious leaders of Jewry, who did not want to bow to His authority. You and I are also in that number as we have done the same thing. And yet, behind all human agents of rebellion responsible for Calvary was Satan.

Isn't it strange that Jesus would give His Satanic foe the very title that He holds—"prince"—"…now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (John 12:31) Paul even calls Satan "…the god of this world." (2 Cor. 4:4) Able to be overruled by the real God at any given point, Satan does, however, have his fingerprints all over this world—just watch the news for five minutes or look at a newspaper—sin and tragedy everywhere. Though the consequences of rebellion linger on, at Calvary, this boastful, world-possessor and seeming-ruler was deposed and defeated, and faith in Jesus brings the victory. No matter the appearance of His lack of control, the Prince of Life, by His death, destroyed the Devil's power, and secured for humankind a magnificent freedom from his bondage. What a powerful testimony to the perfect holiness of the Prince and Savior—the "prince" of this world could find nothing of sin in Him while He was in this world! (John 14:30) Not that he didn't try—many times Satan intended to trip Jesus up, and in so doing, trip up His disciples—and the other way around, too. But our God is far greater, and greatly to be praised!

Take that big storm on the Sea of Galilee, for instance. Neil Wilson, in his book, "Were You There?—Find Yourself with Jesus," tells the story in his own words. In part, he states, "Jesus sent the disciples off in a boat without telling them how He would rejoin them. They didn't ask. If any of them wondered, they were soon distracted by a vicious storm. I don't know who was more afraid; the uneasy disciples who weren't fishermen, or the four fishermen who knew the terror of what could happen on Galilee. The fishermen rowed and shouted instructions—the rest bailed against the waves surging over the sides. Twelve men shared in that desperate fellowship." Oh, sure, God was using all of this as a test of their faith, no matter their experience levels, but can't you just picture Satan hovering above them in the air, dipping down his "princely" scepter and stirring the waves to a froth. Yes, anything to strike fear into the hearts of all of God's people—"Where is your Jesus now? He has left you and forsaken you, for He doesn't care about you or your circumstances." And then it happened, Jesus came to them, walking on top of the waves—their Prince and their Savior was there!

But notice—"For they all saw Him, and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened." (Mark 6:49-52) Literally, they were at the end of their wits in total terror, primarily because they hadn't really considered the keeping power their Prince and Savior had just displayed in the feeding of the 5,000. According to the original Greek, they hadn't put it all together, comprehending the majesty of it all and letting it change their hearts and lives. Satan had succeeded in "hardening" their "heart"—the Greek speaks of becoming "petrified, and therefore, stupid and callous." In fact, this hardening is not just an individual choice; it involves the entire church and all are affected—the "heart" is a collective singular heart. Is true Christianity really unconditional, with no standards, no expectations, and no demands? Hardly!

Matthew's gospel adds that Peter climbed out of the boat to join his Jesus—that sounds good, but when he got scared, down he went. Just imagine the thoughts that Satan tried to put into his mind in that moment—"Just reach out and grab the boat; save yourself for nobody else will." Praise God—it was Jesus who reached out, took Peter by the hand, and saved him. Dr. C. J. Rolls put it this way—"He Himself is the originator, author, and prince of the treasures of truth, the riches of righteousness, the values of virtue, the merits of mediation, the resources of regeneration, the ministration of mercy, the legacies of love, and the wealth of infinite wisdom. To this Prince of princes we may attribute all that is precious, virtuous, and gracious…His princely rights and claims are emblazoned throughout Creation, Revelation, and Mediation." Take it on the highest authority, He alone saves, without a speck of our own ability. But we do have a part to play. We are to be a picket people, sleeplessly guarding our heart, and watching and praying for the soon return of the Picket Prince—who is always watching out for us. He never slumbers and never sleeps, for He alone is our Prince and Saviour. Cavalry or Calvary? They sound very similar, don't they?—but one is based on human ingenuity, while the other gives a royal salvation—a full salvation from which not even wild horses could drag you away!

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Posted By Christ Our Rock Bible Church to Christ Our Rock at 3/01/2009 01:00:00 PM