When it comes to spiritual warfare, many of us are familiar with Ephesians 6:10-18, which talks about putting on the whole armor of God. Yet if we were to undergo a surprise inspection, would we find that we are missing some essential equipment? A quick weapons check can help ensure we’re prepared on a daily basis.
While Paul does a great job of illustrating the spiritual principles in this passage, it’s easy for us to write them off as a “Sunday School exercise.” (How many, like myself, remember the days of Vacation Bible School where we actually made paper versions of our spiritual armor?) But although illustrative, Paul’s words are very serious. In verse 12, he reminds us that our struggle is not something tangible, such as against flesh and blood, but spiritual in nature.
Belt of truth (v. 14)—Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6). If we gird ourselves with the knowledge of Him, we are able to walk securely in the world.
Breastplate of righteousness (v. 14)—Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above al else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Covering ourselves with God’s righteousness can protect us from the attacks on the heart that can ultimately destroy us.
Feet fitted with readiness (v. 15)—The “gospel of peace” that Paul speaks of is Jesus’ ministry. We should be ever ready to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and go out to those in need.
Shield of faith (v. 16)—In this day and age, we need the shield of faith more than ever! It seems that Christians are constantly under attack by those who are led by their own ways. It is our faith that helps us “extinguish the flaming arrows” of attacks on our beliefs.
Helmet of salvation (v. 17)—With our heads protected, we can reduce the chances of “spiritual brain injury” and keep our minds rightly focused on Jesus’ saving grace.
Sword of the Spirit (v. 17)—This is the Bible, the Holy Word of God, which has also been described as being even sharper than a “double edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12). We are to carry it confidently, as it is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare.
Let us keep in mind that the greatest trick of the enemy is to lure us into a false sense of security. When we let our guard down, we leave ourselves prone to attack. We must make sure we do a daily inspection so that we are fully armed and ready for whatever comes our way!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Homegoing
This week, the funeral services for songstress Whitney Houston were held in Newark, NJ. News outlets such as CNN buzzed with the novel term “homegoing.” For those outside of the Baptist tradition, this might seem like quaint, even exotic nomenclature for a funeral service, but it’s quite appropriate for those who are in the faith.
The Christian perspective on death can be quite different from those who are unbelievers. We don’t think of death as an ending, but a continuation. When our bodies expire, our souls continue onto the next phase—everlasting life with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, death may not be as grievous a proposition as it is for others.
This hope of life after death allows us to, in many instances, celebrate the passing of a loved one from this life to the next. Once we recover from the shock and sadness of losing someone special from this earthly dwelling, we can begin to rejoice in knowing that person is present with the Lord. The “homegoing” can even be seen as an acknowledgement of a life well lived on earth that culminates in the greatest reward.
A person of faith, who believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the savior from the penalty of sin, can truly rest in peace when this life has ended. And so can their family and friends. Whitney Houston’s homegoing service demonstrated the comforting power of the Holy Spirit for those who believe. As 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
We can pass from this life at any moment. When the time comes, do you know for sure where you’re going? If you have any doubts, it’s time to know about Jesus, and the saving power of His love.
The Christian perspective on death can be quite different from those who are unbelievers. We don’t think of death as an ending, but a continuation. When our bodies expire, our souls continue onto the next phase—everlasting life with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, death may not be as grievous a proposition as it is for others.
This hope of life after death allows us to, in many instances, celebrate the passing of a loved one from this life to the next. Once we recover from the shock and sadness of losing someone special from this earthly dwelling, we can begin to rejoice in knowing that person is present with the Lord. The “homegoing” can even be seen as an acknowledgement of a life well lived on earth that culminates in the greatest reward.
A person of faith, who believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the savior from the penalty of sin, can truly rest in peace when this life has ended. And so can their family and friends. Whitney Houston’s homegoing service demonstrated the comforting power of the Holy Spirit for those who believe. As 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
We can pass from this life at any moment. When the time comes, do you know for sure where you’re going? If you have any doubts, it’s time to know about Jesus, and the saving power of His love.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Taking Ownership
It seems that fewer and fewer people are “owners” these days. In some residential areas, there are more apartment renters than homeowners. In the luxury car industry, some have speculated there are more leasers than car owners. It has even been reported recently that the DVD industry is failing because more people are opting streaming services such as Netflix vs. buying DVDs of blockbuster movies. We’re losing ownership. Fast.
There was a time when you purchased something, and that was the end of it. After 5, 10, or even 15 years, you would consider replacing it. And that was usually a very deliberate decision made after weeks of pouring through reviews, making comparisons, and having lengthy conversations with salespeople about product features. Today, the average appliance may be changed every 3 to 5 years. And technology becomes old after just 2 years of use. Even most cell phone carriers offer a “New Every 2” incentive, so that you can have the latest devices every other year.
My parents came from a generation of “1 and done.” That meant, you bought something and you were pretty much done paying for it. Back then, if you purchased a television, you may have put out a lot of money upfront for the best model you could afford. And that was the end of it. Today, after spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a great television, you still have to pay a monthly fee for service (even for local access!). When my parents bought me a toy, that was pretty much it until it fell apart. Today, the toys we purchase our kids come with separate attachments, cartridges, and even monthly service fees that force us to keep making payments over time.
Aren’t you glad that at least there’s one thing that’s paid for that you never have to worry about again? As Christians, we know that the price has been paid for our sin debt. Jesus sacrificed Himself and paid for our souls in full. If we believe this, there’s no monthly fee, no payment plan, no service agreement that will keep us apart from Him. God’s love is a constant, as Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
From now until the end of time, we are His and He is ours. That’s the kind of ownership that matters.
There was a time when you purchased something, and that was the end of it. After 5, 10, or even 15 years, you would consider replacing it. And that was usually a very deliberate decision made after weeks of pouring through reviews, making comparisons, and having lengthy conversations with salespeople about product features. Today, the average appliance may be changed every 3 to 5 years. And technology becomes old after just 2 years of use. Even most cell phone carriers offer a “New Every 2” incentive, so that you can have the latest devices every other year.
My parents came from a generation of “1 and done.” That meant, you bought something and you were pretty much done paying for it. Back then, if you purchased a television, you may have put out a lot of money upfront for the best model you could afford. And that was the end of it. Today, after spending hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for a great television, you still have to pay a monthly fee for service (even for local access!). When my parents bought me a toy, that was pretty much it until it fell apart. Today, the toys we purchase our kids come with separate attachments, cartridges, and even monthly service fees that force us to keep making payments over time.
Aren’t you glad that at least there’s one thing that’s paid for that you never have to worry about again? As Christians, we know that the price has been paid for our sin debt. Jesus sacrificed Himself and paid for our souls in full. If we believe this, there’s no monthly fee, no payment plan, no service agreement that will keep us apart from Him. God’s love is a constant, as Psalm 100:5 tells us, “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
From now until the end of time, we are His and He is ours. That’s the kind of ownership that matters.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Super Bowl of the Soul
Today is Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not going to take sides or make any armchair quarterback calls today, but I’d like to make a Biblical sports analogy and talk about how to win the Super Bowl of the soul.
In any kind of sports contest, you may notice that athletes have intense focus. They never seem to lose sight of the goal. They are trained to drive toward what’s ahead. They sweat, they push, and they work as hard as they can to reach the end goal. And for those who press forward to the end, they enjoy the sweet taste of victory. Our Christian journey is much like that. We are all striving to reach the end goal—eternal life. In order for us to reach it, we have to make the right moves to get there.
It begins with training. Studying the Word of God and going before the Lord in prayer helps to strengthen our spiritual muscle. We are better able to endure when we are well prepared for the struggle ahead. Just as worldly athletes need a healthy diet to keep themselves in shape, as Christians, we should be careful about what we ingest. Do we allow ourselves to overindulge in spiritual “junk food,” or do we have a steady diet of good counsel, positive conversation, uplifting music, and pure thoughts?
On the field—that is our daily life—we have to keep our focus. Of course there are obstacles to face. Some opponents are easy to maneuver around. But sometimes we come across more fierce competition. We need to be careful not to get sidelined by the sins that may easily beset us. And by no means should we ever let them push us back! There are times we may get caught up and fall flat, but we need to get up and keep going. There may be scars, and there may be bruises, but they serve as a testimony of how God has brought us through even the most difficult plays.
To reach the end goal, we have to stay focused on what’s ahead. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Are you running in such a way to get the prize? Are you headed toward the goal line? Press forward, never give up, and keep the faith!
In any kind of sports contest, you may notice that athletes have intense focus. They never seem to lose sight of the goal. They are trained to drive toward what’s ahead. They sweat, they push, and they work as hard as they can to reach the end goal. And for those who press forward to the end, they enjoy the sweet taste of victory. Our Christian journey is much like that. We are all striving to reach the end goal—eternal life. In order for us to reach it, we have to make the right moves to get there.
It begins with training. Studying the Word of God and going before the Lord in prayer helps to strengthen our spiritual muscle. We are better able to endure when we are well prepared for the struggle ahead. Just as worldly athletes need a healthy diet to keep themselves in shape, as Christians, we should be careful about what we ingest. Do we allow ourselves to overindulge in spiritual “junk food,” or do we have a steady diet of good counsel, positive conversation, uplifting music, and pure thoughts?
On the field—that is our daily life—we have to keep our focus. Of course there are obstacles to face. Some opponents are easy to maneuver around. But sometimes we come across more fierce competition. We need to be careful not to get sidelined by the sins that may easily beset us. And by no means should we ever let them push us back! There are times we may get caught up and fall flat, but we need to get up and keep going. There may be scars, and there may be bruises, but they serve as a testimony of how God has brought us through even the most difficult plays.
To reach the end goal, we have to stay focused on what’s ahead. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Are you running in such a way to get the prize? Are you headed toward the goal line? Press forward, never give up, and keep the faith!
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