we are at war

there is a war going on today that we are all caught up in but hardly ever realize it. at least i don't anyway.

this war is against our souls and the image that God has placed in each of our hearts. it's a war that seeks to maim our relationship with God and keep us ineffective unaware of the deterioration of our lives. it's something that i've just recently begun to see, but it's overwhelming how far the reaches of our Enemy have stretched.

masculinity is under attack. men today are going through so many different things and have become twisted in how they live. there are few men who really understand wisdom, love, justice and most of all truth.

families are under attack. the relationship between men and women that provides structure to our society and is a mirror of Christ and his church has splintered. according to our world, there is no standard for what a family is supposed to look like: one parent or two, hetero or homo, grandparents or aunt/uncle parents; most families aren't loving or guiding anymore.

our country is under attack. there is so much corruption in the legal system, in our state capitals and in the nation's capital. politics has worked so hard to provide equality for all that Christianity has become unofficially discriminated against. our leaders have so many things that motivate their decisions, but hardly ever is it motivated by their Maker.

education is under attack. Christianity has been beaten back in different avenues of learning, written off as a fool's way of thinking. according to our world, Christianity has nothing to offer us; we are an enlightened people and can determine our own meaning in this world. our education should be focused on what science tells us and that is all.

and my soul is under attack. i think that this is the largest and most foundational front to this war. Satan, disguised as an angel of light, or better yet, seeming invisible and nonexistent, prods us subtly off the path of life. our souls have a rival and we often don't acknowledge it. he hates the fact that we exist and even more, hates that we are given grace for sin. he will do what it takes to keep us from the transforming love of Christ.

but there IS hope. we have been made by God himself; the one who forged our souls and breathed life into our bodies controls the world. He has defeated death and beaten Satan into submission. because we have been chosen and redeemed by Christ's blood, we have freedom to obey Him and not the depraved nature that lives within us. we can fight back.

"Stay Alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a raoring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith." 1 Peter 5.8-9

"Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls." 1 Peter 2.11

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4.4