the War of the World

Now lest you take one glance at the title and decide to turn the page, convinced that this is just the ranting of some war-movie obsessed teenage girl, please stop a moment and listen to what I have to say.

WAR. The dictionary offers many synonyms for this word. Most of them go along the likes of "fighting", "combat", "attack" and everything else that remotely alludes to bloodshed, gore, pain and suffering.

Swords slashing, the sound of metal upon metal, stabbing, wounded, crying, dying. Some people call that war.

People hating people they don't even know, super powers, bombs, terror, destruction, pillaging, devastation. Some people call that war.

What do you call war? What is your personal definition of this very short but extremely loaded word? Is it a fact or fiction to you?

These are questions more important than a if-you-had-one-wish-in-the-entire-world-what-would-it-be question in a Miss Universe pageant. And the answer is much more labyrinthine than the all too cliché "World peace" answer.

War, whether we like it or not, is an impending circumstance. No amount of ignoring this fact will make it go away. The Bible clearly tells us that before the second coming of our Jesus, there MUST come a time of great distress and sorrow. In other words, War. And God has called each and every of His children to be ready for battle, to fight alongside Him.

And this war is not just the mere physical clashing of bodies that we envisage. No, it is far more profound than that.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The world tells us "You have to be strong to win. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Just do it!" It tells us that as long as we are smart, strong and mean, we will rule.

But the Bible says something else! God says that the real war is against satan the enemy. It is a spiritual battle we're talking about here. And when God enlists you and me into His army, He means business! This is no ordinary battle my friends, no ordinary battle indeed.

The Bible says that before the final war - what we know as Armageddon - comes, the Antichrist will appear. He will be the instigator of "peace", which ironically will cause the world to erupt in war. The devil is a smart war strategist; that we need to recognize. But even more vital is that we remember God is the supreme King, and He is infinitely more powerful and smarter than that prince of lies. If we're on God's side, we can be sure that victory belongs to us! The war had already been won when Jesus died on the cross and rose again.

"So why do we still have to fight, if the war has already been won?" one might ask. Well, simply put, the war has been won but there are still battles to fight.

The devil is not going down without a fight. Although he knows that he's going to end up in the lake of fire, he is going to try his uttermost to pull as many of God's beloved as he can down into the abyss with him.

These are the battles we must fight.

God says that He is a safe tower; the righteous will run into it and be glad. In this Tower, we are buffered and protected on all sides. But God calls us to do more than that! He wants us to pull into the fray, barrel over enemy lines, and rescue those who are kept in captivity!

Now see this: We as God's children are hidden in the mighty fortress; The Tower, even as battles wage on outside. We are safe here, and well fed. We are happy. Then, the King sweeps into the room, his countenance is ethereal light. His voice like cracks across the room like thunder, it doesn't make us fearful. No, instead it strengthens us, renews our courage.
Then the King says "My children, I am glad that there are so many of you here today. Your faith has brought you to Me, and I have brought you here. I love you very much. Now, I am going out into the battlefield to rescue more of my children who have gotten lost along the way.
I do not demand any of you to come with me, for it will be a dangerous task and many of you will lose your lives because of this. But I will provide you with what you need; I give you the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Word. This full armor I give to you freely, because of my great Love for you. All you have to do is take it up and put it on.
Now all those who are with me, let's go. It is time."

War. It is a scary notion, to be sure. But God has provided each of us with everything we need so that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

War. It is the cry of all believers as we storm the gates of hell and set the captives free in the name of Jesus.

War. It is the time that God's grace, glory, power, and love has never shone brighter.

War. It is our declaration of Truth in a world full of lies.

War. It is the heart cry of God to fight for His lost children.

Let's declare it to the enemy; we are ready, we will fight, and we will win.

If this war will make me weak so I'll lean on the One who's strong, bring it on.

Let's say it together now:

This Is War.