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Have you ever felt like the world is crashing around you? Like you just can’t go on any further?
I know there is a lot going on around us that makes us think nothing will get better, as if the enemy has already won. But don’t lose hope! As Christians who hope in heaven and eternal life, we must remember God’s promises written in the Bible. And what God has promised, He shall fulfill.
The LORD of hosts has sworn:
“As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,”Isaiah 14:24
Every word of God proves true;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.Proverbs 30:5
Yet, we also know the devil is at work in the world, too, trying to keep God from fulfilling His plan (spoiler: he won’t win). Still, the devil has been ruling this world since the time of Adam and has 6,000 years of practice. He knows his time will come, so he’s trying to take us all down with him. So, what must we do? Shall we give up and let the devil win? No, we cannot.
The Battle We Must Fight In
Did you know we are fighting in a battle? It’s not a physical battle, but a spiritual one.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
This verse reminds us, as believers, that we must not be idle or complacent in our lives of faith. God lost His creation to the devil when Adam sinned and the devil stole it from Him. God is fighting to take it back, and while God’s angels are fighting in the spiritual world, we must fight here in the physical world. But as the verse says, it’s not a physical fight. We are soldiers of Heaven’s army and we must be prepared and equipped with God’s Armor (Ephesians 6:13-17) and have our swords, that is, God’s Word, also ready (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17). How do we fight? With our words:
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Yet, even as we fight, we may lose some battles. We may get overwhelmed and think all hope is lost. The walls are breached and the enemy is taking over the castle. I’m reminded of the battle of Helm’s Deep from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers movie. It’s such an epic battle and quite perfect for representing the spiritual battle we fight as Christians.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
In this scene, the Uruks breach the walls of Helm’s Deep and begin to gain the upper hand in the battle. Everyone begins to fear and think all is lost. Even King Théoden begins to doubt.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Rider on the White Horse
In that battle, just when it seemed like the world of men has lost, that evil has conquered, Aragorn is reminded of what Gandalf had told him days before. Aragorn and Théoden rise to make one last fight, even if it’s their last. Gandalf promised to appear at the right time, and when that time came, he came with help. It is one of the most amazing and awe-inspiring moments in the whole franchise (one of many).
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
That scene gets me choked up every time. For us as believers, who are fighting in God’s spiritual war, thankfully, we are not on our own. God and Jesus give us help just at the right time!
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:11-16
Our enemy is not Sauron of Middle Earth, but Satan. God has promised to capture and lock up Satan and do away with sin and death.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
Revelation 20:1-2
We can fight and overcome because one who fought on our behalf overcame the world already. That person is Christ Jesus.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
We, too, are told to fight the good fight.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
As we fight with Jesus by understanding, believing in, and obeying the Word, we will conquer the devil and his forces.
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 17:14
Enduring Until the End
Whenever I watch or read fantasy stories such as The Lord of the Rings, or Eragon, or The Dragonlance Chronicles, part of me wishes to live in that time. It seems so romantic, and perilous, yet full of adventure and fun. While neither you nor I are living in those times, we are in our own epic story with battles, betrayals, losses, and also victories. We have the greatest victory to look forward to – the victory over death through the fulfillment of God’s promises.
So, when it seems like all is lost and you can’t go on, remember we must continue to fight until the end. Jesus said the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13, 10:22). And in Hebrews, we are also reminded of our confidence in Christ.
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.Hebrews 10:35-39
Throughout history, even in fiction, there are many dark times. But the light is just ahead, and the heroes keep holding on until the darkness passes. It brings to mind one scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film by Peter Jackson where Sam gives a moving speech.
New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
That speech is very encouraging, and in the Bible, God encourages us too. He has promised to vanquish the devil and his kingdom of Babylon and bring salvation.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
Revelation 12:11, 10
Let’s not give up hope, for God and Jesus are fighting and we must also fight until the end. We can overcome! How do we fight and overcome? By studying God’s Word. I hope you have the heart and mind to study God’s Word, to sharpen your sword, and equip the Armor of God needed to fight in this spiritual war.
Written by Kenny
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