We are in War.

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of this world, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 CSB and Greek Interlinear

We are in war. We are living in war times. I definitely don’t mean political or war with other countries. I’m talking about all-out war everyday for where we put our desires and devotion to. This war is a battle for our love, our souls. Are we gearing up for battle? This isn’t whether we are in the battle or not, but how are we fighting and where our allegiance is. The Bible doesn’t allow ambiguity. Jesus says some pretty offensive things like, “Anyone who is not with me is against me…” in Matthew 12:30 CSB and also in Revelation 3:16 CSB, “… because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.” There’s no middle ground. So, let me say that again in context, if you’re not fighting in this battle then something is wrong because we are in war! We need to stop playing religion games.

“This war is a battle for our love, our souls…”

How deadly the mundaneness of life can be! How subtle the blows from the enemy are. What a great tactic of the enemy! To make our main concerns about: jobs, giving our kids the “the life I never had” or the “life they deserve,” owning cars, owning a home, having retirement, stocks, bonds, rental properties, eating out, TV subscriptions, smart phones, the latest styles, club memberships, and on, and on, and on… It’s not that these things are wrong in and of themselves but they can be numbing. That can be deadly in war. What an incredible tactic from the true invisible enemy.

“Get in the fight or get out of it…”

Ephesians 6:10-13 is an incredible passage of Scripture to wake us up. There’s a war that we can’t see going on around us every second of every day that is trying to destroy our affections for God. I love the line of Wyatt Earp from the movie Tombstone, “Get in the fight or get out of it!” Also a great line from Mickey in Rocky III: “… but then the worst thing happened to you that could happen to any fighter: You got civilized.” Both of those actually have pretty good theology for the war we’re in. If you’re not in the fight then get out and in Christianity we are fighters: don’t become civilized.

If it’s one thing COVID has shown us is this: how much we love our comforts. God forbid we ever run out of toilet paper! I feel that COVID has shown that if you strike some comforts or conveniences, we begin to show what we really treasure; take a person’s stuff away and watch how they react and this will show what their true treasure is. We see that in Job when he loses everything in chapters 1 and 2. God wants to be our treasure and He is jealous for that place in our heart (Exodus 34:14).

God, please keep us from being civilized and complacent in this all-out war that we’re in. Help us to have eyes to see and ears to hear. Help us to fight this enemy and grow closer to you. Keep us awake and aware of the battle going on. Keep us close to you.

 

-Austin

 

References

George, Cosmatos and Jarre Kevin, directors. Tombstone. Hollywood Pictures, 1994.

Stallone, Sylvester, director. Rocky III. MGM, 1982.