Even the world knows that there is good and evil. Just look at movies. The entire series of Lord of The Rings is about Frodo taking an evil ring to be destroyed so that an evil being can not come back. Or Harry Potter, for instance, is about taking down an evil wizard who wants to kill all the muggles and those that aren’t pure-blooded. The Marvel movies, Stranger Things, and so much more.
Now, none of these movies or shows necessarily show Christian values, but they are good examples of good versus evil. We, like many of those heroes in the movies, are in a constant spiritual battle daily. We are fighting against the forces of evil. Every time that you choose to not sin, to not say that rude comment to the person who just did you wrong, to not speak out of anger and rather bless their day, and every time you open that Bible to read His word, you are fighting against the forces of evil.
Although we can’t see it, there is a spiritual battle going on all around us. A battle that’s end is already determined. Sorry for the spoiler, but God wins. Still, that doesn’t mean we should fight as best we can to help make that happen.
I remember when I was a teenager and Macy asked me, along with a few others to give a sermon at youth group over the next couple of weeks. I went to pastor Mark and asked for some advice. I showed him what I had prepared and asked for some pointers. He told me that I did a good job, but I needed some work (still do). Then before I left, he asked to pray with me. As he was praying, he prayed that Satan and demons wouldn’t harass me and that I be spiritually protected.
After hearing that, I wondered why he specifically prayed that. Later I realized that when you are with the Lord, and doing things for his glory, you can be opened up to that spiritual warfare that could potentially try and make your goal of serving the Creator even more difficult.
Ephesians 6:11-12 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.”
So when temptation, sin, the devil himself comes knocking at your door, do not let them in. Instead, take what Revelation 3:20 tells us to heart. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.”
With love,
Intern Pastor Jc Pappan