Thursday, November 11, 2010
SOBERING THOUGHTS AT THE END OF THE CHURCH YEAR (4):
OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPON
Since our enemy is a spiritual being, we also need a spiritual weapon. I'm amazed by the smart-bombs and fighter jets used by our military against earthly foes, but such weapons are of no effect against a spiritual enemy. It is a truly sobering thought that our enemy can't be seen and can't be fought with conventional weapons.
But our God has not left us to develop for ourselves a spiritual weapon. Rather, our God has provided us with a spiritual weapon to rout the enemy (Ephesians 6:17): " ... And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Moreover, in His Word He shows us how this spiritual weapon is used. When tempted to sin by the enemy, the Savior responded again and again (Matthew 4:4, 7, 11) with the Word of Truth, prefacing His thrust with the words, "It is written." The enemy fled confounded.
Jesus wasn't only setting us a good example to follow. He was even then, as our God-appointed substitute, winning our victory. He lived without sin, and then laid down His life to atone for our sin, and the sin of every other human being. When it was all over, he marked the occasion for all eternity, saying: "It is finished."
Christ Jesus can help when the Tempter comes, because unlike our enemy, Jesus came to be one of us. He knows what it's like to be tempted and is perfectly qualified to help us, as it is written (Hebrews 4:15-16): " ... we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
