I do not think that what I am about to say will surprise you. I know that you are completely aware of the reality of what I am about to say. “As Christians we are at war.”
As Christians we are at war.
We are not at war with people or nations, but we are at war. The apostle Paul describes our battle this way,
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Eph 6:11-18)
His justification for describing the armor of God is that we are wrestling against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We are in battle!
Our Savior commended the churches of Ephesus and Pergamum for theie stand against false teachers and other enemies of faith. We should make similar stands. When we take a look a current culture we have many battles to fight. We live in a culture war with battle lines against false religions, media, entertainment, immorality, political issues, false Christianity, and the list goes on and seems to grow daily. But not one of these is my greatest battle. These enemies are easy compared to the one I fight daily.
My greatest enemy, the hardest enemy for me to engage in battle much more defeat is . . . ME. I am my worst and greatest enemy. God is in a battle with me for me. I have to choose a side.
God is in a battle with me for me.
The apostle Paul understands my battle. He faced a similar enemy,
“Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom 7:20-24)
Wretched man that I am!
I am in a battle with me, God is in a battle with me for me. Whose side will I fight on?
You and I see the difficulty of this battle our lives when we:
- Turn to food for comfort instead of God.
- Seek a “buz” from alcohol or drugs instead of being filled with God’s Spirit.
- Think career or awards bring distinction.
- Try to fulfill my need for joy in my family before I look for joy in God.
- Base our future hope on legislation or politicians instead of God.
- Think society determines truth or morality instead of God.
God is in a battle with me for me.
Jesus knew my battle would be a daily battle. He tells me to deny myself and take up my cross daily to follow Him (Luke 9:23).
- DAILY! I must die to me daily.
- DAILY! I must sacrifice my life for Him daily.
- DAILY! I choose which side I am fighting on.
- DAILY! God is in a battle with me for me.
I wish I could say I always choose to side with Jesus and God, but I get in my own way. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Paul’s answer his and my question is in Rom 7:25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
-Scott
Driving Thought 