As the world churns darker day by day it's crucial for the believer in Jesus Christ to “armor up.” There's a great battle going on that makes all the world's wars look like playground skirmishes. It's a battle for the souls of men and woman, young and old. It's a battle that's about as old as Creation itself. And the chief adversary in this war is relentless, desiring to conquer and destroy as many souls as he can — especially now, knowing his time is short. (*Revelation 12:12)
The good news is that the believer in Christ has already won the victory since Satan was defeated by the Cross, but the battle still rages. Satan can't take away that victory because the believer is secure in Christ, but he can attempt to destroy our witness. We're saved by the precious blood of our Savior. And we were saved not to sit back and dig our heels into the world's ways, but to be witnesses, testifying of His Good News, that through faith in Him we can have eternal life. (**John 3:16)
So Satan’s work seems to be in overdrive now. Just look at your daily news for details. And so the believer must be prepared to take a stand for what he or she believes and dig their heels into following Christ, desiring Him and to know Him above all else. We were given marching orders to share Christ, to make Him known and to make disciples. If we resist taking this stand then we’re showing how much this world owns us.
The devil will do all he can to trip up the Christian to cause him to fall. Put your armor on. Not armor as the world understands, but the Armor of God. And be prepared to fight. As someone once said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
If you don't know Jesus Christ as your own savior, then delay no further in making that decision. I believe that time left to make that decision is extremely short as Bible prophetic signs are unfolding and speeding up. Jesus is coming back to rescue those victorious ones from the coming wrath of God. But even if Christ were to delay His coming you have no idea when your last living day on earth will be. The often quoted question, “Do you know if you'd go to Heaven if you were to die tonight?” remains an imperative one. You can be sure by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ who paid for your sins and mine.
If you know Christ, or have just come to know Him, I leave you with our marching orders, the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul...
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.“ – Ephesians 6:10-20
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*Revelation 12:12 — “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
**John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
**John16:33 — “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
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