The way many people in today’s world look at the Christian life, it’s like they think it’s all a game. It’s all about having fun and being entertained. However, the Bible paints a COMPLETELY different story. Paul told us in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” And Peter warned us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
The Christian life is a constant battle. It’s a battle against the onslaught of Satan and the world. It’s a battle against the flesh. It’s a constant struggle to keep oneself on the right path, the path that is narrow and hard, but the path that leads to everlasting life.
It is not something to be taken lightly, but to be constantly sober and watching out for the evil that is around us, even in many who claim to be Christians, yet have no relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”
We too often take our Christian walk way too lightly, and think that we can just do whatever we please, and we wonder why we fall victim so often to the evil around us. Pay close attention to how you walk, how you talk, what you do, and how you live. It is a daily battle! We cannot allow ourselves to get too caught up in the things of this life.
It’s not always easy, and sometimes is just plain HARD, but that’s why Paul wrote, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) When we get to heaven, we’ll have all eternity to rest…for now, we are at WAR!