The Real War

Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  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."

Russian planes bombing targets in Syria.  Refugees from Middle East Wars flooding Europe.  Iran putting troops on the ground in Syria.  Fighting in the Ukraine.  Tensions between the US and Russia… US and China… US and Iran… North and South Korean troops on High Alert.  ISIS beheading Christians.  America bombing ISIS targets.  Iran threatening to annihilate Israel.  The headlines just go on and on. Right now there just seems to be war everywhere. I cannot help but think of our Lord speaking about “wars and rumors of war...” in Matthew 24.  There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to any of this.  These headlines, when you let them all sink in, are scary. What’s happening to the world?  What’s kind of world will it be for my grandchildren?

It’s easy to become obsessed with all of this and forget that these wars are simply a symptom… an outward manifestation of the real war that’s going on.  Without meaning to diminish any of the horrors that I just referred to, it’s important to remember that the real war is the one St. Paul describes in Ephesians 6:12.  “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.”  Those headlines are scary but the real war is scarier.  Those headlines are of events still far removed from our lives but the real war is part of our daily lives.  This real war is not about territory, or oil, or political or military power, or even religion.  This real war is being fought against the real “Axis of Evil” – the devil, the sinful world and our own sinful flesh.  This real war is over heaven or hell. It’s a matter of eternal life or death for every single person in this world.  This war is fought every day in every temptation you face, in every struggle that challenges your faith, in the conflict that goes on in your heart between believing or not believing, in every choice that comes your way. 

How can we possibly fight such a war?  That’s why I love Dr. Luther’s famous hymn – “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”  This real war is what that hymn is all about.  Luther reminds us that we can’t possibly fight this war on our own – “The old evil foe now means deadly woe; Deep guile and great might are His dread arms in fight; on earth is not His equal.  With might of ours can naught be done soon were our loss effected.” 

How can we possibly hope to win out in this war?  Quite simply because “for us fights the valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.  Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is, of Sabaoth Lord, and there’s none other God; He holds the field victorious.”  After all Jesus took on this war.  He fought in our place. He gave His life in our defense and He rose up victorious over our sin, death and the devil himself.  Therefore “though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpower us.  This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none.  He’s judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him.”   What is that one little word? Jesus.

What’s my point in all of this?  Be concerned about the events of this world.  Care for and pray for the victims of these terrible wars.  But don’t ever lose sight of the real war that’s going on. These wars between men are symptoms of that war. Identify the real enemy correctly.  It is not your neighbor or your spouse or the person who can’t stand you.  It’s not ISIS, or Syria or Russia.  Our real very dangerous enemies are the devil, the world and our sinful flesh.  Most important of all, follow and trust solely in the One who fights for us, the Valiant One who has already won this war – Jesus Christ.  Or as St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”