You Were Born Into A World At War (Part One)

A few years ago, I had the distinct honor and privilege to be the youth pastor at a small church in the German state of Thuringen. While my job dealt primarily with students, I was also able to get to know many of the older folks as well. One man, his name was Wolfgang Walther, had been a member of this church since he was a young man. What was interesting about Wolfgang is that he had served under Erwin Rommel in North Africa during World War II. He was a very godly man who was also a great storyteller. I loved to hear him talk about his experiences in the war. He knew what it was like to deal with the daily duty of going to war. Even Wolfgang for all his experiences, however, would gladly admit that the carnage and danger caused by World War II cant compare to the war that is raging this very minute in the room in which you are seated.

It’s easy not to want to admit it or deal with it, but like it or not you were born into a world at war. This war began thousands of years ago in heaven and rages on even to this very day. The war that I am referring to, of course, is the war between God and satan. Two texts that give us a hint about how this war got started are found in Revelation and Genesis.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. – Revelation 12:7-8 (ESV)

[speaking to the serpent] “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
- Genesis 3:15(ESV)

The Bible begins with a prophecy given to Eve about satans struggle with Jesus and ends with a back-story telling of satans rebellion in heaven. So if the Bible begins with God fighting against satan and ends with God fighting with and eventually defeating satan where does that leave us? That’s right, we are right smack dab in the middle of a war. Those of you who share my passion for Tolkien will relate to Aragorn who sums up our state when he says…

“Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not.”
- Aragorn in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

So we are at war. What does that mean? Well, it means we have two choices. The first choice is that we can deny or ignore it (A very popular option I might add!) and be a statistic at best or an ally at worst of satan. The second choice is that we can daily prepare ourselves to fight satan with every fiber of our being.

Now before you grab your water pistol and get ready to charge hell, keep in mind that this war is not for the faint at heart. It’s not glamorous. It might cause you to do crazy things like deny your own ambitions and serve the Lord in relative obscurity and poverty. Don’t worry though, you’d be in good company with people like John the Baptist (John 10:41-42),
David Brainerd, or any of the unnamed but brave souls mentioned in Hebrews 11:35-40.

Yes waging daily spiritual warfare is hard but the benefits are out of this world (no pun intended). Consider what James has to say…

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
- James 1:12

This is the first of a two-part post that will be continued Lord willing in the next post.
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