War

According to “The Global Conflict Tracker” (https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/?category=us), there are currently over 25 “wars” going on at this time. Perhaps you, like me, were not aware of most of them. War can be defined as “to be in active or vigorous conflict” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). We use the term “war” often, as we fight the “war against poverty,” the “war against drugs,” and the “war against terrorism.” Due to the pandemic this year, many of us are fighting our own “wars.” We may fight the “having enough food on the table,” “gas in the car,” or the constant war of “too much month at the end of the money!” “War” is a dreaded term because it usually results in pain and suffering. How do wars end? Peace agreements are reached after battles have been won. Notice – wars are won – one battle at a time. We must not give up. We must keep moving forward, even if we have to take two steps backwards from time to time.

God didn’t promise that the Christian life would be easy, but He did promise that it would be worth the struggles. Think about the book of Revelation which was written to the first century church, letting them know “the things which thou hast seen (the past), and the things that are (the present), and the things which shall be hereafter (the future)” (Revelation 1:19). The letters written to the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 2-3), have one main theme – “He that overcometh. . .” (Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; and 3:21). We cannot give in to sin because we get tired of fighting the war against Satan. We know that our “adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Satan isn’t stalking those in the world – he’s already got them. His prey are Christians. We must put on the “whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).

My friends, wars are usually not won overnight. They require strategic planning and preparation. They require persistent awareness of who your enemy is and where he is at all times. Thank goodness, we are not alone. As David declared as he stood before Goliath, the giant, “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Samuel 17:47). Our war against sin will be won, one battle at a time. Keep up the good fight. Simply blessed, Courtney