The Battle Rages

(NOTE: This is a re-post of my blog from April of this year. The battle with Satan continues to rage and I am still fighting mad!)

The battle is raging and I am fighting mad! I am mad because I have seen firsthand the destroyed lives, the messed up kids, and tangled webs of deceit that are the causalities of this battle.

Ø A respected pastor of 25 years leaves his family, church, and friends for another woman after a secret illicit affair . . . the battle rages!

Ø A church leader struggles to the point of entertaining thoughts of leaving the church because someone on the church's staff is overly demanding and self-centered . . . the battle rages!

Ø A vibrant church is facing a devastating split because someone brought in an heretical teaching that undermined the orthodox teaching coming from the pulpit . . . the battle rages!

Ø A wife and mother who professes Jesus Christ as her Savior leaves her family and retreats into a self-centered life of affairs and alcohol . . . the battle rages!

Ø A prominent civic leader is disgraced through the lure of pornography . . . the battle rages!

Ø A successful business man wants to walk away because he can't get along with his business partner . . . the battle rages!

The battle rages on every front. Why? Why are families dissolving before our eyes? Why are relationships being destroyed at an alarming rate? Why are our children being pulled into every form of evil imaginable? It is because we don't understand the battle in which we find ourselves. We believe that our problems, issues, and unhappiness are caused by those around us when, in fact, we face an enemy whose end goal is to kill and destroy everything that is good and wholesome and God honoring. We face an enemy who is "hell bent" on the destruction of all mankind, especially those who call Jesus their Savior! We face an enemy who despises the Creator of all things and seeks to make those who believe on Him impotent and unable to carry out His call in their lives.

Since Satan's attempt and failure to overthrow God in the beginning of time, he has had just one goal – to wreak havoc on earth destroying the lives of as many people as he could in an attempt to undermine God's plan. In Isaiah 14:12-15 we are given a glimpse of that monumental confrontation that took place between God and Satan:

How you have fallen from heaven,

O morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!

You said in your heart,

"I will ascend to heaven;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,

on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High."

But you are brought down to the grave,

to the depths of the pit.

Even though many "enlightened" scholars and thinkers of our day dismiss the idea of an actual, literal battle between good and evil, one would have to choose to ignore the overwhelming evidence to believe that such a battle is not raging. Unfortunately, the very idea that such a battle is imaginary disarms many who otherwise would be able to see the reality of the battle and chose to fight it by standing with the Victor.

The Apostle Paul understood this battle very well. In his letter to the Ephesians he admonished them that the battle was raging and they had to prepare and understand the enemy in order to overcome all of the weapons that the enemy would use against them.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.^. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. . ." (Ephesians 6:10-13)

The battle rages but the war is not lost! In fact, the war is already won and that great deceiver, destroyer, murderer, who we call Satan knows that he has been defeated. In his last gasp he is trying to bring down as many as he can. Jesus has won the victory and, in His perfect timing, will forever bind Satan and refrain him from causing any more havoc!

". . . the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)

The battle rages, however, when you face the temptations, struggles, and disappointments of life that come at us daily, remember that you have a choice: you can be a victim or you can be a victor. You can choose to follow Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, or you can choose to get angry with your fellow man, the situation, or your circumstances and allow Satan to side track or derail you and make you impotent for God's work. Remember, our daily battle "is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The battle rages but the victory is won! My prayer is: "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. But while I wait for You, give me discernment to know when Satan is using other people, situations, or circumstances to try and derail me from following You. Allow me to hear your Holy Spirit as He leads and directs me into decisions that will honor You and further Your Gospel here on earth. Lord, I want to be a victor not a victim. Amen."