Many of us have bought the lies of the enemy that we are religious enough. We attend church, we do good things; we are “good people”. We are kind enough, don’t steal, lie, or cheat. We measure ourselves against those not claiming to be religious and we look pretty good.
Here’s the problem: we are not called to be religious, or measured by the standards of the world. We are called, for such a time as this, to be warriors. We are not kids on a playground; we are warriors on a battleground. There are wars all around us- for our children, grandchildren, loved ones, finances, and the lost. People are battling sickness, disease, mental illnesses, poverty, and battles with their spouses. There are wars & rumors of wars. As long as the enemy keeps us convinced that there is no battle, or at least that we have no power in the battles around us, we stay unengaged or hopeless. As long as we remain convinced we are “good enough”, we don’t recognize and possess the desperation needed for a relationship with Jesus Christ.
As Christians we must get laser focused on what and whom we are fighting for. If pride or insecurity are at the root of why you are fighting, you are defeated before you ever begin. If you are willing to fight for people to know the transformational, redemptive salvation and love of Jesus Christ, you will win even when you feel like you are losing. If you are willing to stand for what the holy word of God teaches, even when culture and people despise you, please remember you are in perfect company. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. He never sinned, NEVER. He came to save the lost, heal the sick, and offer salvation to the world. His life on earth ended horribly by being hung on a cross, for you and for me.
Those that are engaged in the battle have become weary, wounded warriors. We feel outnumbered. We see other believers fighting against us instead of with us. I want to encourage you to keep up the good fight. We will be called liars, hate-mongers and intolerant people. Again, study the life of Jesus- we are in perfect company. I have realized that in this battle, we can please God or we can please people. It is rarely possible to do both. I continue to remind myself that at the end of my life I will not stand before man; I will stand before the holy, blameless, perfect, Lord of Lords & King of Kings. I would rather fight a good fight here and please Him. See, we need to get refocused, recharged, and fight for what should be fought for.
Romans 8:31-37 teaches us,
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Brothers and sisters in Christ- please keep fighting. I have read the end of the book. We win in the end and we get to enjoy the eternal blessings and glory of heaven. Nothing can separate us from God and His love for us.
Now get out there and keep fighting. Remember, Jesus died on that cross, but He rose again and He is coming back for His church. I want to be one powerful, and engaged warrior when He returns.
Courtnay Aycock