WHERE YOU CAST YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
It is not unusual for challenges to a leadership position to occur in domains where one or more persons may feel that they have more to offer than the person who is in the position of leadership. There is nothing new about this. It has been happening for eons. In fact it first happened in heaven.
Rev 12:7-9 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels. And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
The passage above tells us that each side in a conflict has its following. Michael and the angels fought against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought against Michael. In a conflict there always has to be a winner and a loser. As it was in heaven, each side always fights with its leader to gain whatever spoils are available or whatever the leader of that group is trying to gain.
The dragon, other wise known as Satan or the devil no longer wanted to be subject to God in heaven. He felt the need for more power. God, through Jesus, had created all things and had power over all things. The angels worshipped the Father and Son crying holy, holy, holy. Adam and his wife Eve communed with them in the Garden of Eden on a daily basis. In fact the bible says that man was made a little lower than the angels, and yet God came down and communed with man daily.
It was all too much for Satan. He started to talk to others about all the power God had. He started to show them that they too could have power. If they joined with him, they could overthrow the Most High and they could be in control of the whole creation receiving all the honour and glory that the Father and the Son now enjoyed. These angels actually believed him. One-third of the angels in heaven joined Satan’s band-wagon. After he had convinced those angels, he decided to convince man that what God had told them was not so. God had placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and had told them that they could partake of all, except the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden. He told them that being disobedient to Him meant death. Satan told them “Ye shall not surely die.” Gen. 3:4 Sadly, they believed Satan and disobeyed God. This meant death for all mankind.
Today, we face the same conflicts. There are voices all around us trying to win us on their sides. Yet God still summons, He still stands at the door and knock. He will not force Himself on us. The word in Psalms 95:7 declares, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart”. Remember the angels who sided with Satan were thrown out of heaven with him. It is important whose side you choose. This choice will determine your eternal destiny.