Day: October 15, 2010

There are many reasons as to why wars are fought; some are fought in the name of love, while others in the name of hate; some to subjugate and take over while others are fought in the stead of the weak who are subjugated. Ironically, many wars are fought in the name of religion when the very essence of that religion is an undercurrent based on love.

Christian life is likened to that of a soldier in which each Christian is to clothe themselves with the armor of God. As Christians, is there ever a reason for one to engage in battle, to fight a war? Yes, there is and that is to “Stand, Withstand and Show“. We must gird ourselves with the armor of God (belt of Truth, the breastplate or Righteousness, feet fitted with readiness of the gospel of Peace, shield of Faith,  helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit) so that we may STAND against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11,13,14); and WITHSTAND in the evil day (Ephesians 6:13). And while these are reasons to be prepared for war, what is the reason to fight in the war?

Why fight? We must fight so that we may ‘Show’ that there is a God who fights for us. This is especially needed in a world that is succumbing to atheism and unproven scientific hypotheses that attempts to disprove the existence of God. When David fought Goliath, He fought for this very reason as expressed in 1 Samuel 17: 46 –  “that all the earth may know that there is a God [in Israel].” Though Christians may be much smaller than the giant of the world which taunts us to succumb to its anti-theist fallacies, defying the living God, we must engage in battle and fight, so that the earth may know (in other words, so that we may show) that there is A God; the ONE TRUE God, Jesus Christ.

Are you/I engaged in a war? What is the reason for your/my fight?

Ephesians 6:11-14 (KJV)
¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Samuel 17:46-47 (KJV)
⁴⁶ This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷ And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.