Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. – Revelation 12:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 1, 2018): Revelation 12

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” The words of Mahatma Gandhi still ring true. Evil can cause disruptions, but if we can wait, truth and love always win. Of course, Gandhi was trying to guide his opponents, and some of his followers, away from a military answer to the problems of India. The problem with a military response is that it is, at best, a temporary solution. There has to be something else behind it. War tears down, but only truth and love have the power to build back up again.

So a war breaks out in heaven. The dragon and his angels decide to storm the gates, possibly to regain all that they had lost. And at the gates of heaven stands Michael and his angels prepared to go to war. Some have argued that Michael here must refer to Jesus, but the thought is misguided. This is not a fight of the dragon versus God. That fight would come, but not yet. This is the scariest of all wars. It is a battle amidst equals. God has no equal, but here both the Dragon and Michael and the forces gathered around them are equal. One force desires to tear down and destroy, the other to defend and rebuild. The difference between the two armies is one of purpose. One force is built around a lie and hate; the other serves the author of truth and love.

Only one can win. And Gandhi is right. Truth and love win in the end every time. This battle will be no different. This battle belongs to Michael, and the war will be ended by God – one who serves truth and love and the other who embodies it.

If there is one thing that frustrates me, it is that we live in an age of easily manipulated photos. A picture is worth a thousand words, but we have turned the truth of a picture into a lie. And as Christians, we seem to be so willing to take part in the lie. I understand that we live in a time of deep ideological divides, but our arguments have to be built on truth and love. And so we take a picture of Emma Gonzalez tearing up a target and remake it into an image of the student tearing up the constitution. I do not agree with everything that Emma says, but I will defend her right to express her truth. We take a picture of the Seattle Seahawks dancing in their locker room and insert a burning flag so that the picture looks like something that it is not. When Barrack Obama was first sworn into office, there was a picture of the former president with his left hand on the Bible. The inventor of the image even remarks that the picture had not been adjusted, and offered the wedding ring on Obama’s left hand as proof. What they forgot to do was to adjust the picture of the General standing in the background. He stood as proof of what had been done. He was wearing his medals on the wrong side of his uniform.

If we can’t make our arguments with truth and love, then maybe we are on the wrong side. Truth and love win every time, both in heaven and on the earth. Truth cannot be stretched, and love cannot be put aside. When we dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of truth and love, we place ourselves in the midst of the heavenly armies. Somehow, we as Christians need to be comfortable with truth and love. The lies are for someone else – and ultimately for those who wish to lose, because truth and love win, in the end, every time.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Revelation 13

Personal Note: It is my privilege to welcome a new addition to the clan. James Duane Mullen was born on April 28. Mom and Dad are doing fine, and Grandpa and Grandma are very proud.