We are at war

The one fight worth having

A couple of days ago I shared about what it means to trust God when things feel like they are falling apart in the post ‘Handling Trouble’.

In my quiet time this morning I was reminded though,that trusting God doesn’t mean pulling back from the battle. It is tempting to want to ‘keep the peace’, to avoid conflict and step away from anything that looks like a battle.

It is interesting that Jesus said:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God

There is a big difference between someone who tries to keep the peace and someone who makes it their task to make peace.

Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace can be translated “everything having its right place”.

We have to face the fact that there are forces, including in us, that are wanting to disrupt the peace.

Ephesians 6:12 in the Message says:

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

I’m not naturally someone who talks much about spiritual battles, but increasingly I have become aware just how much both inside me and externally a battle is raging.

In this battle sitting on the fence is not an option.

Edmund Burke said:

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”

Paul goes on in Ephesians 6:13-18 to talk about how we can face the battle:

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

So… we are in a battle, we need each other and most of all we need God.

I love how Paul finishes, a focus in this battle needs to be ‘having each others backs’, making sure no-one gets left behind.

The battle for true peace is the one fight that is worth having.