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Living a godly life is a fight. Yes, we can be confident in our salvation and ready to meet our Lord in the sky. But this does not negate the fact that living a godly life is a struggle, a battle, and a fight.
Near the end of his life, Paul wrote to Timothy and said: "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:11-12).
Jude exhorted Christians saying: "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Ju. 3). Christians have the pleasure of serving in the Lord's army and must fight against "principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). Christians have a God given command to fight against darkness lest they are overcome by evil.
· Christians patiently persevere throughout the fight. Our battle begins the day that we become Christians and ends the day that we depart from this life. James wrote to Christians who were fighting to do what was right while the rich were cheating them of their wages (Ja. 5:4). James said: "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (Ja. 5:7-8).
· Christians rejoice throughout the fight by prayerfully trusting in God for victory. Paul said: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Th. 5:16-18). And he said: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:4-7).
· Christians must fight to the death! We must fight till the day we die. And we must fight, even if the fight requires our own mortal life.
Jesus exhorted Christians in Smyrna saying: "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).
And Paul never gave up the fight saying in his last epistle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
· Everybody is fighting for something. Jesus said: "he who is not against us is for us" (Lk. 9:50). And James said: "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (Ja. 4:4). Everyone is either for God or against God. Everyone is either a friend of the world or a friend of God. Everyone is either fighting for God or fighting against God (cf. Acts 5:29; 23:9).
Everyone is fighting for something. What are you fighting for?
Source: www.BibleStudyGuide.org
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Nov.12
