The River Rubicon
On January 10, 49 BC, Julius Caesar faced a monumental decision, concede or rebel. In front of him was the River Rubicon, crossing it with an army was a capital offense, an act that would incite war. Crossing the Rubicon was an irreversible decision from which Caesar could never return but he forged ahead with his legions, marching on Rome, waging a four-year civil war, and becoming dictator for life.
The decisions we make reveal our allegiances. Regardless of how we are perceived by others, it is clear to God where our loyalties lie. He has commanded that we worship Him and no other, we have a choice to make (Ex. 20:3). Many believers ride the fence, claiming the title of Christian but fail to be followers of Christ. They proclaim their love for God but worship other gods. They tolerate evil and fall into sin and, without realizing it, pledge their allegiance to Satan. When you live life based upon the tenets of the culture instead of the Word of God then, when you are faced with making life-changing decisions, you may already be headed in the wrong direction.
The ancient pagans burned incense to an image of Caesar declaring him lord as an act of civic duty. Early Christians found themselves casually participating in this pagan act. It may have seemed like an innocent citizen responsibility but it was an offense to the one and only true and living God. What do you do to offend God that is disguised as duty? What do you do that seems innocent but actually pledges your allegiance to Satan? Why is this important? Because you are approaching a fork in the road and it is time to make a decision. Will you cross the River Rubicon? Will you concede or rebel? This is no lighthearted decision, this is no, I’ll do what feels good and then ask God for forgiveness in the morning or I’ll follow the crowd and talk to God about it tomorrow, no, this is a River Rubicon, once you cross it there is no turning back, no forgiveness, no redemption, no second chances. One step in the wrong direction is a declaration of war for eternity, but not a war that you will win, not a war that declares you a dictator for life, a war that ends with torment, fire, and brimstone, no rest day or night, and worst of all, the absence of the presence of God (Rev. 14:9-11).
One day soon, by way of the Antichrist, Satan will require that everyone take a mark (Revelation 13:16-17). In the ancient world, slaves were marked for purposes of identification and idol worshippers marked themselves in devotion to a particular god. But the one true God has a habit of marking His own for their protection. On the night of the Passover, God instructed that the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses be marked with blood (Exodus 12). Rahab, the harlot, was instructed to hang a scarlet cord from her window to spare those in her home (Josh. 2:18–21; 6:22–25). In Ezekiel, God tasked His angels to mark the righteous in order to set them apart from His judgment (9). Almighty God marks and identifies the righteous so that there is no mistaking who belongs to Him. Believers, right now, are marked, covered by the blood of Jesus Christ which protects from the present judgment upon this world and the judgment to come.
One day soon, this world will be stripped of the believers in Christ who faithfully serve Him and eagerly anticipate His return. Soon after, the beast system will be in full effect, and Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and his minions will expect those who remain to pledge allegiance to him, to identify with him, to worship him; this is the River Rubicon (Rev. 13). Once crossed, there is no returning. God has been very specific about His feelings towards those who choose to take the mark of the beast and the consequences that will result (Rev. 14:9-11). This is the one thing that you can do to which there is no redemption.
On the Ides of March, after serving only one year of his tenured dictatorship, Julius Caesar was murdered. I wonder how different his life would have been if he had not crossed the Rubicon. It is too late for him, but you still have a little time. Check your allegiances, concede to the will of God, and cease rebelling against Him now. God wants nothing more than the salvation of all His human creation but He cannot accept the free gift of salvation for you, it is your decision to make. Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and then begin to read and study His Word and apply it to your life. You will find unspeakable joy in seeking His face. You have a decision to make; concede or rebel?
