Once you have been saved, you are in the fight of your life and it doesn’t end until you are home with the Lord. Daunting? Sounds like it. Being a Christian, in my thinking, is not an easy thing – it’s not supposed to be a bed of roses. Though there’s a slight possibility that I could be mistaken, I believe that though our salvation has occurred – we will always be contending for it (Philippians 2:12) in the sense of becoming who we are destined and designed to be.
Though satan has and continues to do everything he can to disrupt you becoming saved in the first place, that last thing he wants is for you to make a difference in your world so he attacks. Remember his description? John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” [John]
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” [Peter]
I also appreciate the contrast John presents between satan and our Lord. From Jesus’ own words, the contrast is stark: destruction versus abundance. And Peter provides the behavior we should and can display. Those verses are very descriptive of the nature and character and actual ability of our enemy – the key is ‘like’. But please… remember he IS our enemy not just some comical cartoon.
Part of the devil’s anger has to be based in the fact of what/how the Word speaks about us… and especially that we all have been given spiritual gifts. I don’t think the vanity of the devil ever expected this. And thus we contend for who we are, what we are able to do, and how we are blessed. Just as the Lord knows our frame, so does the devil. And he uses our weak spots, our vulnerabilities against us. However, I think I have observed a pattern – satan always uses the same tactics and methods to distract or untrack us. He is not creative so as we grow we can disrupt his intentions (thought this is never an end to his machinations).
One of the wondrous realizations is when we not only know but act on the Word (our sword of the Spirit – Ephesians). When we are in trials, regardless of whether it came from our own bad decisions or satan, we have:
“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].” [Philippians 4:13]
Do remember that satan can’t be blamed for all the trials we encounter. We sometimes are our own worst enemy. We are the ones who fall for the temptations or seductions. We are the ones who accept the lies. And HOW do we combat this? [verse 14]
“Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul].”
Hard? Of course, whoever said that our battles, temptations, seductions were simple and easily overcome? That’s why we have our armor and are strengthened to stand, to contend. Remember though that the Word never asks us to do anything we can’t. And satan has already been defeated but he will try and take as many of us as possible with him to the Lake of Fire.
Bottom line is that we have been given everything we need to not only succeed but to thrive, to grow, to live an abundant life. But we also will need to be wise and contend against those forces that continually lie to us about who we are, what we can do, and Whose our Lord.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] [Philippians 4;13]
Successfully contending…You did see the word confident ‘peace’? Also included. Yes and Amen.
