The Battle is the Lord's...

Chapter Three:

When I started reading Mr. Gurnall's book for the first time I was surprised that it took some time for him to actually discuss the different pieces of the armor and how to use them. However, I understand now why he wrote it as he did.  The first chapters are necessary to lay the foundation upon which the rest of the book is built.


Ephesians 6:10 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."  As a believer ponders what challenges lie ahead of him as a soldier, it is understandable that it is easy to fall into the trap of being fearful.  Gurnall wrote, "The Apostle Paul had a discerning heart. In writing to the early Christians at Ephesus, he knew he had to prepare them for unprecedented hardship.  But first he longed to encourage and comfort them, so he reminded them of the Lord's strength. It was if he were thinking,  'Some of my dear friends must be quaking in their boots to see their enemies strong and themselves so weak, so numerous while they are so few, so well equipped and expert at arms while they are just raw recruits.'  He must have known that a fear-wracked soul is too preoccupied with its present distress to listen to advice from anyone, even a well-meaning friend."  

Paul knew that his friends, his disciples,  were fearful and he sought to give them an antidote for that fear.  He soon found one to help them. Paul encouraged them to not let their fears overwhelm them, to march on with courage and concentrate on this specific task, "be strong in the Lord."  Paul frequently exhorted them: "Be strong and courageous" (Second Chronicles  32:7), and "Say to them that are of fearful hearts, Be strong" (Isaiah 35:4). 

And here is the ultimate answer to that age-old fear, the struggle that disciples of times past, and those of us today struggle with: The outcome of the battle rests on God's performance, NOT on your skill or strength!  This is a very important point that we must believe and rely upon.  Our job is to concentrate on being strong in the Lord.  It is God's job, not ours, as our Commander in Chief, to make sure we win the victory.  To the degree that we believe and trust God, and follow Him as Commander in Chief, to that degree He will be able to teach and use us in this war in which we find ourselves.

 

Sadly, there are many carnal Christians, who are asleep to the dangers of their weak, sinful state, and with foolhardiness will rush into battle only to come face to face with how their unrepentant sins have made them an easy target for the enemy. Their only choice will be to not only flee from the enemy, but also from our most Holy God.  Many Christians today will eagerly share that God loves everyone, but when they experience difficult times as a result of their lukewarm faith, they will pull back and refuse to accept any hardship. For them it is easier to walk away from the hope of heaven than to pay the price of being a serious soldier in God's army. They will simply leave it up to others to do the hard work.

If we hope to obey our Heavenly Captain's orders we must find courage and determination within ourselves.  Cowardice will only allow fear to rule us. We must have courage to obey God. Gurnall wrote, "The challenge exceeds the bravery of the best unless they have help from a source greater than themselves."  I, for one, am grateful that source is our Almighty God and that I do not have to find it within myself, because I know that I possess nothing near the courage that will be required of me.   We must find our courage and strength through prayer!  Gurnall went on to remind us, "Prayer is the main line that leads straight to the throne of God. By it the Christian approaches God with humble boldness of faith."   The world may look upon our going to our knees as a sign of being feeble and cowardly, but what they can never understand is this is where our source of strength lies.  This is where we receive what we need for the battle. 

God knows we often need encouragement,  to be reminded that the battle solely belongs to Him, and to Him alone.  What a marvelous God we serve!  He doesn't expect us to rush headlong into battle without encouraging us and equipping us. He is the ultimate Commander in Chief.  He doesn't stand by the side lines, giving orders hoping that we will win.  He literally charges out ahead of us, laying the way for us, so we are assured of victory.

 I want to finish this chapter by quoting the following from Gurnall:  "You should find great strength and encouragement in the knowledge that your commission is divine. God Himself underwrites your battle and has appointed His own Son 'the captain of (your) salvation' (Hebrews 2:10). He will lead you on the field with courage, and bring you off with honor....As part of Christ's army, you march in the ranks of gallant spirits....Some, like you, are in the midst of the battle, besieged on every side by affliction and temptation. Others, after many assaults, repulses, and rallyings of their faith,  are already standing upon the wall of heaven as conquerors.  From there they look down and urge you, their comrades on earth, to march up the hill after them. This is their cry: 'Fight to the death and the City is your own, as now it is ours!  For the waging of a few days' conflict, you will be rewarded with heaven's glory.  One moment of this celestial joy will dry up all your tears, heal all your wounds, and erase the sharpness of the fight with the joy of your permanent victory."