GLEANINGS — November 2, A.D. 2014                                                                                                               "For or Against?"

Through Matthew (12:22-30 ) and Luke (11:14-23) the Holy Spirit records for us what happened after the Lord Jesus healed a man who was blind and mute on account of demonic possession. Instead of joyfully marvelling, Christ's enemies accused Him of healing and delivering that man by the power of the very devil who had been cruelly abusing him!

The Lord, knowing their thoughts, wisely reproved their blasphemous and foolish accusation. Then He made a very profound statement: "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."

We ourselves can only marvel at the staggering and profound import of  that saying, especially when we compare what the Master said on another occasion about which are told at Mark 9:38-40 and Luke 9:49,50. In these passages we find a man casting out demons in Jesus' name. The twelve object, because the man does not follow along with them.
Identifying with His chosen ones, Jesus commands them not to forbid the man, saying "He who is not against US is on OUR side."
Let those complementary precepts from the mouth of Immanuel sink in. The King of kings is asserting that when it comes to Him, there is no place for indifference. Neutrality about where you stand with Jesus and His people is not an option. In fact, it is not even possible.
Let's suppose someone to whom you are testifying about the Lord says, "well, I don't have anything AGAINST your Jesus, but I'm not interested in being one of His followers." According to the Lord of all, that posture IS one of opposition to Him! And the only alternative to not opposing Him and His people is to be on our side. There is no middle ground...no fence sitting when it comes to God incarnate, the only Lord and Savior!
To those trying to live as if Jesus Christ is irrelevant, the word of God says this: "...in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God..." (Romans 2:5)
Jesus' parable about the tares and the wheat also comes to mind. For a while the two types of plant grow together in the same field. They share some common characteristics, are nourished by the same sun and rain, and premature removal of the tares would damage the wheat. But at harvest time the tares are proven not only profoundly different in nature from the valuable harvest, but utterly worthless to the farmer. And there is no third kind of plant in the field.
Do you know about practical a-Theism (atheism)? The philosopher type a-Theist consciously and deliberately opposes God by what he vainly imagines is his rational and unassailable unbelief. He makes no bones about it: he is dead set against the Jesus of the Bible! But the practical a-Theist is one who might give "lip service" to King Jesus, but lives under the delusion that not gathering with Him – not serving with Him in the work of His kingdom – is acceptable. 
In reality, that one is in league with the archenemy and opposer of the King of kings. That one's end will be like that of the demons with which Jesus dealt during His earthly minstry: cast out.