Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:10-13
You may not realize the extent it reaches into your life. You may not grasp the effect is has upon your life. Perhaps you’ve dismissed it as a bad rap, bad influence, bad habit, bad luck, bad timing or bad news. Labels aside, there is something very palpable and perilous that is happening in our lives. The threat is real. The danger is imminent. The stakes are high. There is a battle that is raging in us, around us, and against us. The spiritual enemies of God are making war against the family of God. Just as God is advancing His kingdom, Satan and his allied army are intent on achieving their own objective. Namely, to stop God from advancing His kingdom. It is, of course, ultimately in vain, but in the time and space we now reside, there is conflict. The enemy forces will come at us in an all-out assault upon our faith and an all-out attempt to control, cripple, or crush us. Therefore, we must fight for… our marriage and family, thought life and beliefs, purity and righteousness, calling and purpose, loyalty to God, satisfaction in Jesus, God-given hopes and dreams, wise use of time, stewardship of money, delight for God’s word, devotion to prayer, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, next step of faith, stand against injustice, voice for the truth, platform to share the gospel, Christ-purchased abundant life and love for our heavenly Father. We cannot afford to yield ground in these areas. We cannot afford to be passive in the fight. We cannot be ignorant of or indifferent to the seriousness of the calculated aggression of our enemy. We cannot let the enticement, frustration, deception, opposition, confusion, distraction, or coercion of any enlisted person or power to convince us to settle for a cheap and comfortable substitution for God and His ways. The warfare comes in many different forms, but the endgame is always the same: to convince us to live as if we do not need God. Therefore, let us fight like our lives depend upon us depending on Him. Because. They. Do.
