What I discovered in Revelation is the love and commitment that God has for me, for you and for the whole world that He is willing to go to battle for us against every evil that Satan represents and that He considers us important enough to save.
The Best Example Is A Parent
Imagine parents fighting for the life of their child who is sick with cancer. Or whose child does something “wrong” at school and the parent speaks up for what their child actually did right. Or maybe even one parent fighting for his or her child that their ex spouse or partner wants but should not have custody of. All three of these examples demonstrate to us a parent that loves their child so much that they are willing to fight against something terrible or evil happening to them. This illustration shows to the child and to others what they mean and how much they mean to the one they are fighting for.
The parent “goes to bat” at any cost to show love and commitment. This really is how God views and treats us and He is willing to take Satan in a battle for our sake. Even in the face of Satan’s malicious and violent intent, God is willing to lay it all on the line out of love for us.
Since Before Creation
God and Satan are utter enemies but only because Satan defied God! Since before the creation of the world, Satan tried to “take over”. He wanted what God had which was complete control over all creation including people and including Satan himself. The first two people that he went after were Adam and Eve since God made them first. A serpent was used to deceive and to pull Eve away and trick her and cause her to doubt what she knew/. Then she told Adam about the fruit and he ate it regardless of the truth that God gave them.
To God, We Are Worth Engaging In A Battle
The lyrics to the song “Battle Belongs” by Phil Wickham really resonates for me. There is a constant battle between God and Satan that will end one day. The fact that there is a battle at all proves that God really loves us and wants His best for us! This is a relationship worth having! A relationship with someone who loves us enough to fight every battle for us! No one else in the world is likely to do this for us other than God. God has been fighting for us and Satan has fought against God and against us all this time. Satan does want us on his side; to do wrong by not following God. What he does not want is what is best for us.
The Constant Battle
One of the greatest passages in the Bible that describe the constant battle going on between us and the devil is found in Ephesians 6. You can read it below. This is a battle that is ongoing and will continue until the Lord takes us home. When you read it, you will see that it takes us using the power and tools that God provides for us. These tools are His armor – the strength that He gives to fight, the belt of truth – knowing truth, specifically truth from God’s Word, then faith, righteousness, salvation and the sword, all part of knowing, believing and using God’s Word. We have so much available! I know though that it is really hard to fight for what is right. Be ready though!
Stand Against The Devil’s Schemes
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17
Let No One Take You Captive
Other verses I list, pertain well to not allowing ourselves to be taken by things like tradition, philosophy and wrong teaching. This is something that we encounter constantly, even daily for some of us. In our culture right now, I see constant battle between right and wrong, for and against morality.
This afternoon even, I had a discussion with some people about a book that was placed in a middle school library near where I live. It is very disgusting and immoral. Some people have no shame and no values whatsoever and have no problem with allowing this filth to invade such young minds. Then people wonder why there are constant shootings and sexual crimes happen.
No Standard For Right And Wrong
It is because people refuse to set a standard and follow a standard for right and wrong. Even unbelievers can still do right, but they don’t have all of the tools that we as believers have. I am thankful that some stand for morality and maybe they are believers. I hope so!
While we can’t legislate morality in this world, we are called by God to fight the good fight and finish strong in the faith. We aren’t just called to do it for ourselves, but for the generations who come after us who need to grow up in the truth and love of God as well.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:8
The Weapons We Fight With Constantly
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
A Relationship That Is Worth Us Having
No more tears and no more suffering someday. Don’t you want this yourself and for your loved ones? If you don’t already know Him, please come to Him, accept Him and get to know Him. Take time to know, love and follow Him. He doesn’t want any of us to suffer and live in pain or hurt. God truly wants every person on this planet to trust Him and know Him. John 3:16
Reasons People Give
Many say, “I know people who claim to be Christians but they don’t act like it. They treated me or someone close to me wrong.” This is not God! There are so many reasons that people give for not following Christ. That reason is very popular and I can understand why people don’t go to church and accept Christ. They have made a building and a group of people out to be what represents Christ, God and this is just not true. It hurts, I know.
Being a Christ-follower, a Believer for over forty years now, I have been hurt by many who claim to know Christ but whose life doesn’t show it. But I know that the way that some act does not represent Christ for who he is and I will not keep from having a personal relationship with Him because there are nasty people who don’t act like He told us to act. We all need to realize that, as God’s ambassadors, we represent Him and people see Him the way we allow Him (or don’t allow Him) to live through our lives. Let’s yield our lives to Him so that the world can see who He truly is.
It Is Because Of His Power
Another reason that people give is that “it is to hard.” I want to live a different way and have fun.” Or, I don’t want to look or act “religious”. You don’t have to act “religious”, in fact, you shouldn’t. Be someone who shows others that you care about them and that you have something that they may not have and need. Give and share with them. The fact is, it’s not about religion (a man’s effort to reach or know God), it’s about a relationship with a loving God who would rather die than to live without us. Care about having a real relationship, with them and with Christ. Don’t be ashamed!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Romans 1:16
God cared and still cares enough for you to give you His life.
Idols In My Life
Idols in our lives hinder us from having a close, right relationship with God. When we make people or things, even a culture or philosophy more important to us than Him; we make these things an idol in our life. Spiritual adultery exists in our life when the one who should be loved and honored first and most, is not prioritized. In other words, we left our “first love.” We left one to love another. For all that God has done for us, does He really deserve this? Our wants can seem innocent at times like wanting the best for our kids and our family. At times though, we obsess over them when we can want a better life for our kids and that hasn’t happened the way that we thought or wished.
But God has a way, His way and His time. If we don’t prioritize Him in our life, we make other things our idol and bow to them instead of worshiping the only One who is truly worthy.
My Original Expectation
The expectation that I had when I first began studying Revelation is that I would learn the details of all of the events of the “End Times.” While we did look into details of many of these events, there is a lot of symbolism as well that we don’t always understand. Some people understand and believe differently than others, what the symbolism means; and that is ok. We don’t have to all agree, but we should seek truth and study the Bible the best that we can to understand. We have to realize that some events actually are a mystery that we won’t know until the other side of eternity.
Stop And Consider
Studying Revelation has really opened my eyes and made me stop and consider my priorities. The battle belongs to You(God). I drift away and I yield to what I want (which is what Satan loves and wants) at times, even though I am a believer, a Christ-Follower. Then, Satan wins in my life instead of God, in a specific situation. You see, he is selfish and he only wants what makes himself win against God.
But God is not going to put up with it. He gave us a free will so that we can choose, but in the end, God wins! Satan wins some battles but not all and not permanently except for those who never receive Christ. I idolize and at times I fear and do not trust God completely that He knows what is best. Remember, He loves you and He loves me enough to fight for us, not against us. He is on our side.
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