War Song

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -- Revelation 12:7-9

War in heaven just doesn’t sound right, does it?  We have heard it, read it, seen it in the titles of books, and thus become accustomed to what must be the ultimate oxymoron, the most profound joke possible.  In the place of perfection, the ancient serpent arose in rebellion against truth, beauty, and harmony.  As unthinkable as such a revolt might be, it is the beginning of Creation.  Of all creation. 

When we see the scene in Genesis, we see the earth “without form and void” and with “darkness over the face of the deep”.  The serpent’s mutiny created chaos, but there can be no darkness and confusion in heaven.  It is not possible.  Therefore the insurgence was outside from the start.  The very thought of it could not happen without the creation – by God – of an antipode to draw out the serpent. 

God does not unmake.  Improvise is all wrong unless we are thinking about something like a musical virtuoso expanding a theme.  It seems to be God’s joy to do this.  Not going with the flow, but responding to the flow and channeling it to serve His purposes.  Satan sends a flood and God creates the Oglala Aquifer, or He builds a water-wheel to put the streams to work for good.  Every act of ugliness and revolt that the enemy perpetrates, right up to the murder of the Lord Himself is another color added to the Divine palette. 

It’s why we have to live by faith.  We are part of the vast tapestry, and, except now and then, for brief moments of ecstasy, we never really get to see what is going on.  We can’t get high enough.  To see the face of God and remain in material existence is not possible.  Once we see Him we can’t stop seeing Him – as John says, “… when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”  We are not collateral damage; we are collateral harmony. 

Have faith in God.