Our Hardest Battle

You know it’s true. We have a sin / sex problem.

At the risk of stating the obvious, and of being gloomy and demoralizing, I will begin by stating what is manifestly clear, we are living in the midst of a dark and wicked day. The darkness is not coming. It is here. It is all around us, and presently, it continues to get stronger.

I am not saying I believe all is lost. Not at all. More and more I am convinced that, no matter how things may presently appear, the world is not on fire. There is actually a flood taking place (Habakkuk 2:14) and the enemy is fired up about it. Jesus has risen from the dead in this world, and the Lord is in His holy temple (Habakkuk 2:20). Amen.

However, in our present situation and society, we see the extremes coming in from the enemy, and all “good” people abhor them. We appear to have lost our ever-loving minds, at least in the west. We are rightfully disgusted by the utter insanity and perverseness of the pagan practices that have been coming out from hiding for some years, now in plain view for all to see. This wickedness needs to be defeated, and it can be defeated.

However, I fear there is one major issue that is hindering the needed victory. We need to come to terms with our own sin. The darkness within.

Our own individual sin within the Church, the same Church of whom our Lord said the gates of hell shall not prevail against. Un-confessed and undefeated sin within the people of the New Covenant. We don’t want to admit it, but deep down, yes, we know. We know that even the redeemed, forgiven people of God are dealing with a lot of dark baggage. We are living in the midst of a wicked day, and when you reside in Sodom, the temptations… they are many. They are readily available. They are strong. I’m afraid these giants are absolutely killing our people. Especially our men.

However, this is no excuse. We are not the first to live in dark days. This giving in to the flesh by the people of God needs to stop. We must submit to God.

The time is long passed to be ruthlessly honest with God. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:” (1 Peter 4:17) Repentance is agreeing with God; the opposite of excusing our trespasses.

There is a vast and dangerous battle over darkness that can and must be won. But the first battle we need to take care of may be the hardest one we will face. Our own sin.

Let us have courage and resolve. Get your heart right with God first. The true and living God is seeking those whose hearts are completely His. From there, we can be sure that He will make a way to overcome, as we submit to Him no matter the cost.

Let us do the hard thing that needs to be done, whatever that may be for you and for me. Get the needed help. Be accountable to someone. Have boundaries “…and make no provision for the flesh.” (Romans 13:14) Avoid the path of the wicked. Put in your life what needs to be put in. And when you do, you may see that some extreme steps are needed. What needs to be taken out? You actually can live without a smartphone. And a laptop. You may live a whole lot better. Would it be worth taking these “hard” steps in order to save your family and get back into the battle for righteousness? You may even have to quit your present job. Would it be worth it? I’m not saying these things are what everyone must do, but what about you? We just need to do whatever is necessary to get things right with God, whatever that may mean for you, and quit listening to the lies of the wicked one convincing you to give up, and that it is just too hard. Anything worth doing is hard, but God is able! Remember the words of the prophet, “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jeremiah 32:17) Not even the battles you face.

There is a battle against evil to be fought. We need every child of God in this battle. We need godly households to produce dragon slayers and righteous warriors in this world. Your sin is serious, and if left alone, it will ruin you and destroy those you love the most on earth. However, it is not hopeless. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Our King is victorious over sin and death, and the redeemed stand in this same victory. Victory for overcoming any bondage to sin is found in Jesus. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Yes, submit to God. Get up and do the hard thing now, and get into the battle for righteousness!

“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.”