Staying focused on the true battle is an important part of our walk in Christ. Until the day we die the pull of the world will be battling our
flesh. This world is governed by the Prince of the power of the air! A world for a time, that is foreign to us. We do not belong, we are aliens.
So, we should have struggles constantly because what we do in Christ will always go against the flow and the majority. Paul says it like this:
“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in
view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so
that I may gain Christ
and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ–the righteousness from God
based on faith.
My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I
will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every
effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But
one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in
Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:7-14
If ever there was a man with a grasp on the strength that comes from the Spirit, it was Paul. Daily dying to himself and becoming strong in
Christ through submission! He recognized that his strength would never be enough and he was destined to fall down without God! Paul reveled
in the heart of the matter, the real issue……that He belonged to Christ anything past this point could not even compare. It was all about
perspective to Paul, what some would see as trails, Paul saw as hurdles on the victory lap!
But why is our walk is so hard and why the constant battle. Because we are the opposition in this fierce battle. We have all been bought with
the blood of Jesus. Our job is to draw as much attention to this Bridge and get as many soul to cross it before our time is up! The battle for
satan is twofold. First, to blind those who are bought and paid for, so that they do not reach the Redemptive Bridge of Jesus Christ. Therefore,
keeping them from redeeming what Christ has set aside for them ….mercy, grace, forgiveness and eternity! Second, to keep those beacons and
lights of the saved souls from shining to on the Bridge and illuminating the way to cross over and receive eternal salvation.
Our enemy knows his final destination and he will take as many casualties as he can! He is not going to walk away from us just because we
accept Christ…..he is going to turn up the heat and take away our effectiveness. If he can do that, all we are to him is just one lone defeat, in his
“loss” column. But, when we persevere we become a beacon and billboards for God’s side. Think of it as a business competitor, wouldn’t it be
great if the competitor to your business never advertised, seldom opened their doors and when they did, gave terrible service? Of course, you
would love that, it would benefit your business. With a persistent advertising campaign, along with great service and hours, you could put your
competitor out of business……or at least keep him in his ineffective condition! Satan sees his battle the same, by knocking you out of the
competition, he’ll prevent any ripple effect you might generate.
If you are feeling the pressure that mounts from the daily struggles to be more than you can bear, just remember that you are punching a clock
with eternal value! You are working for the King and the perks to this position have everlasting rewards. You will never regret the work you do
in His service! He is enough, He is our portion, He is our Deliverer, He is our strength, He is our Mediator and above all He is our Savior!
Take comfort in battle! It is when the enemy stops firing, that we should get concerned! Are we in pursuit or are we in retreat…are we a
threatening force on the front lines or are we avoiding them? Dropping back and letting all of the other warriors do the work? We will never
loose when we take heat for Christ, because we are already victors through Him!
The only way to finish your race strong, is to rely on His strength. It is not “do-able” without this Power source. Be encouraged by the heat,
that means your close to the battle….and it is right where you belong! “IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” Romans 8:31
