"The smallest good act today is the
capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to
go on to victories you never dreamed of".
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
In my 20’s, I served under a senior pastor who had his share
of war stories. Not so much those about church wars, but what it was like to be
a boy while WW2 was raging. He would tell of scrap metal drives and victory
gardens, of women riveters and uncles coming home permanently dismembered or
never coming home at all. What I heard running underneath his accounts was the
American mindset of the time: “We were in the war together. We saw ourselves united in the struggle.”
Peacetime came and America entered a season of greater
prosperity. Boys came home, houses were built, and babies were born. We’ve had
wars since then, but none would come close to spawning the level of national
unity America experienced during those years.
As Christians, we often fall prey to the peacetime vs
wartime mentality. When things are going well, we may think, “Oh, this is my
breakthrough. The battle is over for now.” When unrest comes or a family faces
opposition within or without, we think, “I guess we’re in another battle.”
This is a faulty mindset. Truth? We are always in a war. In
fact, the battle may be more severe when it seems things are going great. Money
in the bank, numbers up, strong friendships, even momentary euphoria--all of these can make you relax and think, “So these are the good days of blessing.”
Someone remarked recently, “Man, it seems like you guys, the leadership, all get along so well. There's a lot of unity and pride doesn’t seem to be a problem.” I told them it was no accident.
It isn’t just that we have a great team of leaders, which I
think we do. Nor is it that we don’t have any big egos (which we probably do!).
It’s that we get up and fight for what's good. We remind ourselves often that we
are in a protracted war. An insidious force is fighting against us every day; unseen
spirits, angels led by a dark lord, and a world with its agenda, also in league
with my human flesh, are all conspiring against the work of Jesus. These dark
powers are cooperating together to destroy unity, to spout constant
discouragement, to fight for independence against our great God, and to spread
lies about His goodness, faithfulness, and character.
“Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory.”
When I forget this, I am vulnerable. Every step
toward faithfulness is warfare. Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory.
The prayers of the saints in the pre-service intercession on a Sunday morning.
The office team prayer at a weekly huddle. The growing of
ourselves in leadership and the acknowledgment of our blind spots. The prayer
circles in the Wednesday prayer meeting when there are voices that say, “This
makes no difference” or, “You’re not very good at prayer. Don’t embarrass
yourself by praying with others.” The prayer before a Celebrate Recovery
meeting. The news I received this morning that a women’s Bible study feels prompted
to begin praying for our children’s camp. News that a man was freed from
demonic oppression in a recovery meeting. When we listen well. When we lay down
our iPhones to read scripture. When we ask a friend for forgiveness, when we
confess our faults. In all these things, we are fighting the good fight. All of
this is a reminder: this is the nature of war.
I’m not being negative. It’s our reality as Christians. And yet in all this, I am encouraged. I remain hopeful. God is with us. Jesus is interceding for us. The Spirit is helping and empowering us. The ultimate victory of Jesus and His kingdom is certain. But get out of bed. Put on your armor. Pick up the sword of the Spirit and keep your eyes open. If you're a Jesus-follower, we’re in this battle together.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, BE ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV, empahsis added)
