Conflict without an outcome is futile activity. The problem without the solution remains a problem, and if that problem is you, or is IN you, then this becomes an immense frustration to yourself and to others around you. But most people are caught up in this situation of conflict without resolution, which means we are continually in conflict, and it is the conflict itself that then becomes the “hallmark” of our existence, of our “life”.
The function of conflict is that of spiritual growth, to resolve and to bring to resolution whatever it is that exists that is the cause of that conflict.
Typical of this can be seen in “The law” which is said to bring “Wrath”. Where we have two opposing sides, their viewpoints or their points of opposition cause AGITATION* of the elements involved. The two opposing sides come from the difference between what is right and what is wrong, GOD’S will compared to OUR will, with all the ensuing negative activity that results.
So firstly there has to be a recognition, a consciousness that two opposing sides exist. Then there has to be a way of resolution as a means of dissolving those differences so that the two viewpoints reduce to one. Conflict in man came from Adam and continued through to the present time. Identifying the opposing forces is a start to resolution, and then the way to overcome them must be instigated in a manner which leaves no doubt as to the importance of bringing all conflict to a conclusion (end).
To have a conflict or conflicted consciousness causes division in that consciousness itself, it cannot effectively perform anything at all, but if left to itself it can have severe effects on the individual concerned. Where an individual might for some reason, either physiological or psychological, have some predisposition towards confliction, any pressure on them from external sources can result in major effects on mental health.
Jesus came as a manifestation of LOVE to resolve the conflict, and it is interesting that although conflict comes by opposing “LAWS”, that these very “laws” had a spiritual source, that being, the nature of LOVE, which is God. So while initially the nature of the conflict was revealed by “laws”, through the manifestation of Jesus this conflict was expanded and expounded on, being that LOVE is the “ultimate law”.
Man’s problem then, is that he is hiding from LOVE, in his hiding from God.
So the law came to expose “sin” (the products of having deviated from God’s will [love]), but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. You will note that He said about ‘the law says not to commit adultery, but I say that even if a man LOOKS at a woman the ‘wrong’ way, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart’. So the “offence” or degree of “conflict” is INCREASED even beyond the law.
So the Spirit (Jesus) opens up the eyes to the difference between what is man’s will and what is God’s will. Self salvation therefore becomes impossible to man, and only possible through God’s intervention on his behalf. Jesus FULFILLED the law, which had become to us “the law of sin and death”. And by fulfilling it by His LOVE, abolished it. He entered into the ultimate conflict by confronting with His love, the products of darkness, the sin of humanity, [works of the flesh] and resolved it by changing it into conformity with Himself, with His own nature, His own will, by His LOVE, which is the Spirit. And then He made this self same Spirit AVAILABLE TO US in whom lies the solution to the conflict, by presenting the very result of that conflict resolution to us as a finished product. “It is finished”. [“Without me you can do nothing”]
The conflicts that Jesus encountered in His own life, were to grow Him in standing, in wisdom and knowledge, in grace and love, and in the power of the Spirit. Until He was ready to confront “the enemy” and to destroy “him” by the application of His love. He became a life giving Spirit. In this way also does He come to us, if we allow Him. In this manner do we leave the source of our discomfit, the conflict between our nature and His, by accepting forgiveness for our “old” self, and then cleaving to the “new” self which He has given us in the Spirit that he is as a free gift of life.
The “wrath” [conflict] that the old nature feels through law, is now by the forgiveness of ALL transgressions against ALL “laws”, revealed to have actually been God’s love ‘at work’, first ON us, and now IN us. The love that God IS has always ‘been at work’ for our benefit, to bring His creation to maturity and fulfillment. During our lives, He works progressively to expose right from wrong, in the hope that we will respond to Him. Those who accept His redemption through Christ are “crossed over” from death to life, and the indwelling Spirit then continues to grow them by ongoing confrontation with anything of them which is not of HIM. [Conflict].
So a process of “sanctification” is at work, a moulding and growing into His image, the image He has given to us as His children. Over time and at the end of one’s lifetime, the finished product is available. But for those who continually refuse His salvation and correction, His love will come upon them suddenly, in force as that which is foreign to their own natural sinful nature, and the inherent conflict will be resolved instantly in smoke and ashes, and unfortunately they will be caught in that original nature instead of being in [His] new nature .
So CONFLICT is a state of opposition caused between that which is of God, and that which is NOT of God, and proceeds forth from the realities created by the difference between the two “wills” involved. it comes from sin, which unfortunately is inevitable when a free will is brought into existence. As soon as God said “do not touch”, sin was instantly birthed in Adam and Eve, and we became a lost people. From that time forward, CONFLICT was to exist within man himself, exacerbated by God’s further promptings to man of His requirements and of the difference between us and Himself.
CONFLICT is inevitably NECESSARY so that the resolution of it emerges in God’s favour, that HIS will be done, be proven, and no one else’s.
The revealing of Jesus was to bring to our understanding the terrible nature of this “conflict” and the terrible nature of its OUTCOME if we remain in it WITHOUT HIM, and to provide us with the freewill choice of our death or His life, to allow Him to take our death and then to give us His life, OR NOT.
That in Him having provided all that is necessary to restore us to health, that being life itself, really life HIMSELF, that we either now accept or reject HIM, who is our life. By rejecting HIM, we reject OURSELVES.
THE CONFLICT WAS RESOLVED IN CHRIST’S BODY – GOD INSISTS THAT WE ACCEPT THIS AS FINAL.
[* Agitation – the internal warring within the mind of dissenting thought patterns and mindsets – the pressure brought about by the clashing of two identities.][Man is really only given freewill when he comes into the knowledge of the gospel – before this he is a SLAVE to sin whose “will” is in captivity, in bondage to law flesh sin and death][Agitation in physics brings about friction and heat (“Our God is a consuming fire“), in people it brings about stress and anguish, results in worry, anxiety and depression].
Peace is the absence of conflict.