Our Warfare

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 9
God is not yet judging the nations, nor yet introducing righteous government into the earth under the hand of "His anointed". No, but rather, in sovereign grace and goodness, He is saving sinners out of them before the judgments fall. Therefore let us who are saints with a heavenly calling completely above and outside this earth not concern ourselves with mundane affairs, but rather with "the kingdom of God, and... those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:3131Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31). "Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth." Isa. 45:99Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? (Isaiah 45:9).
Lot participated in the affairs of guilty Sodom; he sat as a judge in its gate. What happened to him? When the four kings fought with five, Lot and his household and all his goods became a part of the spoils of war. True enough, his uncle Abram, a separated man, rescued him, but Lot never exhibited the pilgrim character that was suited to a saint of God in those days. The world had victorious power over his soul; he re-settled in Sodom and vexed his righteous soul there until the very day of its terrible doom. Dear saint of God, beware!
Our warfare continues unremittingly. There is no discharge. The devil and his well-organized hosts have not capitulated. The only warfare that God has ever owned as the warfare of Christians ("holy brethren" with a "heavenly calling") not only has not ceased, but is increasing in intensity as the devil's time grows shorter.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. 6:10-1310Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10‑13).
We quote from a letter recently received from a servant of the Lord. "The devil is busy turning blinded hearts and minds farther and yet farther away. Satan is still the deceiver and knows his business well. It seems that there are increasing numbers of demons at work everywhere." The "great house" (2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20)) of Christendom is becoming full of them; will it not degenerate into "Babylon the great... the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (Rev. 18:22And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Revelation 18:2))?
Awake! beloved brethren in Christ, awake! "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Eph. 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14). O think of what He has wrought for His own glory and for us, and of what we are privileged to be in this world for Him! We are spared from divine judgment like the sons of Korah, purchased with the blood of His own Son, and are made a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We have a royal priesthood to show forth the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and are carried upon His heart in continual remembrance in high priestly intercession (as the twelve stones were carried in the breastplate of the high priest in Israel).
We are taken into favor in the Beloved, like Mephibosheth taken into the bosom of David's royal circle for Jonathan's sake—called to walk in a path of rejection in this world, and to the obtaining of our Lord Jesus Christ's glory. It is just like those who had shared David's years of rejection in the wilderness: they later shared in all the glory of his kingdom. We are co-heirs of all that the Father has given to His Son (even as Rebekah shared in all that Abraham had given to Isaac), for "the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand." John 3:3535The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (John 3:35).
Thus we are brought into the most intimate relationships of love, the circle of the eternal love of the Father and the Son—loved as the Son is loved—even now partakers of that divine nature which is love. Left here for only a little while, we should represent Him before all men, "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." Phil. 2:15, 1615That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:15‑16).
We are justified by the blood of Christ, sanctified (set apart to God) through the truth and the all-availing intercession of Him who has set Himself apart for us, and glory with Christ above is our eternal portion soon to be entered upon. Earth and heaven, the universe, under His feet (and ours), eternal and ineffable love is our destined portion! What manner of men ought we "to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 2 Peter 3:1111Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11).
J. H. Smith