Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ephesians 6:12 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.
FIGHT THE PROPER ENEMY
There was a medical show on television once called "Diagnosis X." A patient would be brought into the hospital with unusual symptoms and then the doctors would have to figure out what was wrong and administer the proper treatment. Often, the medical team would start down the wrong path. Sometimes they would begin a course of therapy and it wouldn't work because they were fighting the wrong enemy. They would be working against one disease when in actual fact they needed to be working against something else.
What about you? Are you fighting the proper enemy in your daily walk or are your efforts concentrated in the wrong place?
People wage many different "battles" against many different enemies. Some think poverty is the greatest enemy and they war against it day and night. Others think the real struggle is against ignorance so every earthly effort is centered on obtaining a quality education.
Many different enemies. Many different battles. But in the final analysis, do any of them constitute the real battle? Scripture says no. These are earthly wars against earthly things. And while it may be good to help a poor person in need or to work hard to get a good education, we must keep things in perspective. Our fight as Christians is not ultimately against things like poverty or a lack of education, it is against that which can destroy our eternal futures in heaven. Our struggle is against that which can destroy our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior who has cleansed us by His blood and made us His own.
Your great struggle is against the devil and his evil angels. It is against the temptations that come at you day in and day out. So if you are more concerned about missing a day of school than missing a day of church, ask yourself if you are fighting the proper enemy. If you are more concerned with how much money you will make in your future than in storing up treasures in heaven now, ask yourself if you are fighting the proper enemy.
But while watching, also pray to the Lord unceasing.
He will free thee, be thy Stay, strength and faith increasing
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 446:5)
