"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
We live in times where the threat against the Christian Church is once again on the rise. There are an increasing number of anti-Christian groups doing their best to snuff out every last trace of Christianity, along with any other faith that disagrees with their own sick and twisted view of the world. Stopping them is a seemingly impossible task.
Each of these groups have their own leaders who dictate and encourage these actions, who are very good at manipulating their followers into doing their bidding. But just as in the story of Hercules, if you move to cut off the head of the monster, it seems that two more pop up to take its place. Hercules found an answer: when he cut off a head from the Hydra, he seared the wound with a torch, and it was unable to sprout a new set of heads. The lesson the ancient Greeks were teaching was that any impossible task is doable; you just have to do the job completely.
There are those who will tell you that we are facing the end of days, as foreseen in scripture. That may be true. Or it may just be another flare-up of the same old pestering problem where sick, twisted, evil and sometimes just dim-witted leaders rile up their followers to wreak havoc across the holy land. Certainly, given the weapons available these days, the consequences are staggering. Either way, the results are fearsome and demoralizing. The implications of a world wide conflict are depressing and frightening. So what do we do?
The apostle Paul is quick to put things in perspective. The real conflict isn't so much against the individuals as it is against the spiritual forces of evil. Yes, those individuals can and do cause a great deal of harm, and we may be forced to face such evil ourselves some day. Maybe in a big way, like a global conflict. More likely in a more personal conflict, like fighting a disease, or a rift between family or friends.
But Paul also tells us what we can do to prepare for it: Put on the Armor of God. Know his word. Focus on the heavenly realms. Pray. Be firm in your belief. Be more certain and protected in your relationship with God that the heart of the murderers and terrorists in this world. Put on the FULL armor. Know the things driving your faith and use them to stand against the foe.
Acclaimed lyricist Nan Knighton captured that spirit of courage saying this:
"There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
Into valleys, into waters
Into jungles, into hell
Let us ride, let us ride home again with a story to tell
Into darkness, into danger
Into storms that rip the night
Don't give in, but give up
But give thanks for the glorious fight"
So take on the full armor. Be prepared for any sinful attack against your faith. That is your best protection. And even if you find that in your personal battle, the foe becomes the victor and you have to give up... Don't give in! Keep on believing in the greater power, and give thanks for the glorious fight. You belong to Christ eternally.
No comments:
Post a Comment