Recently, in one of my bible studies, we were discussing the war raging in Europe and recognized that we too as Christians are at war, but too many of us fail to recognize this so we are oblivious to the fact that we need to wage war against the devil because he is attacking us with all his artillery. Yes, the battle is the Lord’s, but we still have to fight the good fight of faith. This adversary is a deceiver whose devices are designed to destroy our destiny in Christ. He will use good things to lure us off the path that is God’s best for us. So we must be discerning and wise to his schemes. However, one of the participants in the study pointed out that this formidable foe and his fiends are not our biggest enemy. He stated that self was our greatest nemesis.
That was a profound insight and we all agreed that we needed to examine ourselves and see what we need to let go of and wage war against. That prompted one of the other group members to suggest that we watch a short sermon by the popular pastor, John Piper, who declared that we should make war against our flesh. Our desires, pride, ambition and idols can all get in the way of our relationship with Christ, so we do have to go to war within to get rid of all hindrances that would keep us from fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives.
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
Before I move on, please pardon me as I address the issue of idols for a short while. This is not about people bowing to inanimate objects. Idolatry these days can be anyone or anything we make a priority over God and makes us take our focus off Him. It could be a job, a car, a child, a spouse or even church. Yes, I said church. Many Christians are so busy in church that they have lost their intimate relationship with Christ. We fail to remember that our God is a jealous God and He will not have anyone or anything take His place in our lives. We need to repent of putting people and things first or else the object of our “worship” could fall or fail.
Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon. When the Ashdodites got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. 1 Samuel 5:1-4
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26-27
Just as we have seen in the war in Europe, many people have had to leave persons and possessions they hold dear to them behind, so too we need to let go of anything that might hinder our relationship with Christ and take us away from God's purpose as we carry our own cross. When Jesus used the word “hate” it seems quite harsh, but the fact is when we take up our cross to follow Christ, the cost will not only be to us, but the ones we love will also pay the price. I have seen where a man uproots his family and brings them to a foreign country to spread the Gospel. Members of the family will feel alone and uncomfortable in a strange land. But this is the cost they ALL pay for following Christ. The truth is, if we are not willing to undergo suffering and allow our family to suffer as well, then we can’t be Jesus’ disciple. Then there are some Christians who will be rejected and “hated”” by their family and friends because of their choice for Christ, but that is a cost they must be willing to pay.
Another participant in the Bible study mentioned that when God asks us to leave something and we don’t, He will devastate us out of it. I know that may sound cruel, but the Master Potter knows best. He really isn’t trying to harm us, but rather mould us into His masterpiece. Unfortunately for us, He will use the challenges in life to do this. Yet, it is these very trials that make us realize that there are things within us we must wage war against. Our pride, anger, hatred, bitterness and unforgiveness must go. God will let us to confront confounding conditions to help us comprehend compromise in our lives so that we can combat whatever is against Him and let go of anything that distracts us from our focus on Him, while we relinquish control of all areas of our lives to Him.
A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept since my youth.” Now when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. Luke 18:18-23
It can be a very difficult decision to truly surrender to Christ, because in order to do so we may have to go to war against those closest to us, the devil and even ourselves. We many go through many trials. But, our tribulations build endurance which cause us to develop our faith as we to reach out to God and develop a deeper relationship with Him. And in this we can rejoice. We have to remain faithful and press through, enduring like a good soldier as we submit to each of God’s commands.
If you show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress, your strength is meager. Proverbs 24:10
“If you have run with infantrymen and they have tired you out, how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5
Let us go to war against our selfish desires and strengthen our resolve to take courage in these difficult times as this will help us in the demanding seasons which may await us in the future. These momentary afflictions are temporary, but they are leading us to Christ if we continue to persevere in His way. And let us never forget to stand firm with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God because we are at war.
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