“This town ain’t big enough for the two us.” So comes to mind this well worn cliché of the old western movie (and Toy Story) as I continue to read in James. I read that in the dynamics of the kingdom of God, it’s either friendship with the world or it’s friendship with God . . . not enough room for both . . . to embrace one is to in effect tell the other to “get outta’ town by sundown.” And James calls for a showdown.

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4 ESV)

Doesn’t get much more black and white than that . . . the “town” of God’s kingdom can’t accommodate both friendships . . . friendship with the world and friendship with God are mutually exclusive . . . no working both sides of the fence . . . if we choose to embrace and live for with the world system around us then we set ourselves up in opposition to God. Which is it gonna be?

So, it’s high noon . . . the streets are empty . . . friendship with God has been chosen . . . the time has come to drive the dirty rotten scoundrel outta’ town. And the love of the world takes on form . . . the one who seeks to lure us into friendship with the world comes more clearly into view . . . recognized as a once beautiful, but prideful, and now fallen angel. You’re looking down the dusty street at the devil . . . the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2) . . . the god of this age (2Cor. 4:4). And it’s time to pull the six-shooter out of it’s holster . . . time to draw . . .

“Therefore [because God gives more grace and He gives that grace to the humble] submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6-10)

There it is . . . the push and pull of our showdown at high noon. We push, or resist, the devil and he will flee . . . we pull, or draw near, to God and He promises to draw near to us and lift us up. It doesn’t come down to how well we handle a “Colt 45” but that we determine to pull the trigger . . . deciding to resist the devil and draw near to God. The power is not in how good our aim is, but how effective His “more grace” is . . . that grace which He bestows when we humble ourselves before Him and willingly submit to Him . . . and in so doing, say “no” to the devil’s sales pitch on all that the world has to offer.

We determine to stand firm against the enemy of our souls . . . and he high tails it outta’ town. We willingly bow down before the Savior of our souls . . we cry out to Him who has loved us with a costly, everlasting love . . . we desire and long for Him . . . wanting friendship with Him over friendship with this world . . . and He pours out grace . . . and He descends to envelope us . . . and lift us . . . and seat us with His Son in the heavenlies.

Resist the devil and he will flee . . . draw near to God and He will draw near . . .

Seems like a promise worth claiming . . . a promise worth pursuing . . . for my benefit . . . for His glory . . . amen?