We are at War

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand." (Eph. 6:11)

I woke up this morning to the sounds of war. No, I haven't made a trip to Baghdad or to the front lines of Afghanistan. I was sitting in my chair in my bedroom reading the Bible, but hearing the trainees at Fort Jackson taking target practice. They are training for war. Our country is at war in Iraq and in Afghanistan, and we are facing serious threats from North Korea and Iran. Our local newspaper did not have any reference to those wars in it today at all. We don't want to be reminded. The week that women laid down their lives for freedom in the streets of Iran, our front page news was focused on our obsession with Michael Jackson. Even Charlie's number one angels death (Farrah Fawcett) faded in comparison in our minds.

The Bible reminds us that we are at war in this world, and that Jesus has called us to be on mission. We are waging war against the kingdom of darkness. The Lord's Prayer is ultimately a war time prayer. We are to pray, "Your Kingdom Come, Your will be Done."

We have been fully armed and equipped with weapons of righteousness according to 2 Cor. 10. We are to be diligent in prayer Ephesians 6 tells us. We are either actively resisting the devil and his forces, or we have already surrendered in this battle.