WAR

by Kevin Rutherford

 

War is horrible.  Unfortunately war is a part of our existence upon this earth.  The history of mankind can almost be told by the wars that man has fought.  Nations will always fight against nations as long as this world shall stand. However, the spiritual war that goes on around us every day is far more significant in its consequences than any physical war ever fought.  Satan fired the first shot in this war when he lied to Eve in the garden (Genesis 3).

We are at war with Satan. He is our adversary (1 Peter 5:8).  He is the prince of darkness (Ephesians 2:2).  Satan has his followers among wicked angels (Matthew 25:41).  Satan also has his followers in those who reject the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).  Satan will use those who follow him to work against those who follow Christ.  He is the tempter (Matthew 4:3).  He is the one who seeks to violently shred our spiritual lives (1 Peter 5:8).

This spiritual war is one we can win.  We have tremendous weapons in this war against the devil.  Weapons that are strong enough to cast down “every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).”  We have armor that shields against the attacks of Satan (Ephesians 6:10-20).  With our armor we “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).”

The captain of our army is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:10).  With Jesus on our side we cannot fail (Philippians 4:13).  We must simply trust His leadership and follow His orders.  His orders are set forth for us in the inspired New Testament (John 16:13).

Just as physical wars become grueling and gruesome so too can this spiritual war.  We must be able to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).”  And while we are enduring this battle we must not allow the affairs of this world to distract us from our purpose (2 Timothy 2:4).

For each individual this spiritual war shall last a lifetime.  For the world as a whole this war began in Eden and will not end until Jesus Christ comes again. When Jesus comes again Satan will finally and completely be defeated (Revelation 20:10).  Until then we must soldier on, and when we come to the end of our lives let us be able to repeat the words of Paul. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).”