Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Victory Won - Battle Rages On

I John 5:4  NIV

“For everyone born of God overcomes
the world. This is the victory that has
overcome the world, even our faith.”

      As a child, I heard stories about remote islands in the Pacific where World War II fighting continued  months after America and her allies achieved victory over the enemy.  Because men were hiding in caves and other places without communication to the outside world, they knew nothing of the victory. Therefore, the battles raged on.

     I thought about that in relationship to living a Christian life. John 5:4 tells us that the victory has already been achieved. Yet we continue to fight. Why?  I Tim 6:12 is Paul’s instruction to “fight the good fight of faith”.

     It takes discipline to be a good soldier; to follow commands without reluctance. Great courage is needed to pull a wounded comrade to safety while bullets and bombs are headed straight for you. Great faith in your commanding office is needed as you put your life in his hands.

     For believers in Christ, our enemy is satan and the battle is for the souls of mankind—our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends and family, our children and all those who have never heard the truth of the gospel. Satan knows Christ won the victory on an old rugged cross on a hill called Golgotha, but he continues to fight. (I Pet 5:8)

     Our faith in Christ is our personal victory. We display our faith by the actions we take. We are not cut off from our commanding officer. We have the Word of God and the privilege of prayer for battle instructions. Our marching orders include go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19)

     We must fight the good fight of faith. We must follow God’s commands. We must pull wounded brothers and sisters from the battleground and offer strength, encouragement, hope and healing. We must go and make disciples. We must display great faith in our commanding officer—Jesus. We must not give up or give in. We know that the victory is won, but the battles rage on.

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