Jump Start # 3432

Ephesians 4:13 “Take up  the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

The on going war in Israel is something we’ve not seen in a long time. Israel is our little brother and the ties to our country run deep and strong. And, when someone picks on your little brother, your temperature rises and you feel like busting that bully in the nose. Unlike many wars in recent times, the horrific and torturous abuse upon women and children are unheard of. This is not soldiers fighting soldiers. This is terrorism at its worse. Blood will spill for a long time.

But times like these, remind us of great Bible principles that help us in our spiritual walk. Our verse today, comes from that section we know as “The armor of God.” And, as soldiers are called to the front lines, the apostle sounds forth the Gospel message:

• Be strong (10)
• Put one (11)
• Take up (13)
• Stand firm (14)

Within this call to action, we find the confidence in the results:

• You will be able to stand firm against the devil (11)
• You will be able to resist the devil (13)
• You will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (16)

The enemy we fight is Satan. And, Satan will try to discourage you. Satan will try to distract you. Satan will try to deceive you. And, Satan will try to defeat you. And, Satan will attack all things dear to our hearts. He will attack the congregation you attend. He will attack your children. He will attack your marriage. And, he will attack you.

Our enemy is powerful, deceptive and evil. He will use people that are close to us, to discourage, distract, deceive and defeat you. He will put things before your eyes to get you to take your eyes off of Jesus. He will busy you with good things so that you do not have time for the best things. Satan promises the best and delivers the worst. Satan promises honor and delivers disgrace. Satan promises pleasures and delivers pain. Satan promises joy and delivers sorrow. Satan promises freedom and delivers captivity. Satan promises life and delivers death.

And, for so many, it will not be until eternity that they realize that they have been fooled. They chased the glitter of the superficial and insignificant, and never found the lasting treasure in the Lord. While so many think that they have a hold on the good life, they never understand what the abundant life is all about.

As news comes in from the warfront of Israel, we must be reminded:

First, that we face daily the greatest enemy the world has ever known. He is everywhere. He’s at work before you get there. He’s at home before you get there. On vacation, he’s beat you there. He’s in the church house. He’s in your house. Tempted and tried is how he tries to beat us down. He’s an old, old enemy. Adam dealt with him. Job felt his ugly breath. Abraham, Noah, David, the prophets, the apostles and even our Lord, all encountered this terrible enemy. And, he’s hung around your life for a long, long time. He won’t leave you alone. He was there when you were a teen. He was there when you were dating. He was there when you got your first job. He was there when you were disappointed. He was there when you hurt. He was there when you were alone. As you have aged, he has never given up on trying to trip you, hurt you and defeat you.

Second, as long as Satan has been around us, so has the Lord. And, we have found time and time again, resisting that enemy, and putting on the armor of God works. Those flaming arrows have been put out. When upset, words came to our minds, but we didn’t say them. When gossip came to us, we never repeated it. When temptation crossed our eyes, we looked away and turned away. We have looked and found the way of escape that the Lord has promised us. Yes, Satan has been in our lives for a long, long time, but we have the battle scars that show God works.

Third, we know the outcome for the Devil. His future is Hell. He will not be in charge of that place, God is. He won’t be sticking people with his pitch fork, if he even has one. He will be tormented day and night. He will receive what he deserves. His way is heartless, godless and will receive no mercy from our Lord. Crushed and destroyed will that ole’ serpent become.

It was said long ago that the old men make the wars and the young men die in them. As terrible as the war is in Israel, there is a worse war going on right now and right here in our hearts. It’s the war we are engaged in with the darkness and spiritual forces that oppose our Lord.

Jesus wins. The Bible stresses that. The Bible shows that. The question is, will you and I win? We will if we stay with the Lord.

Roger