the war
Posted June 17, 2009
C S Lewis noted that there are two errors regarding the devil -- either we exaggerate his significance or we ignore him altogether. Ephesians provides a proper perspective that corrects both.
As Paul comes to and end of the letter, he moves into orbit around the subject and takes a bog picture of all that is part of the Christian life. Moving from the daily and ordinary life of work, family, and marriage, he now notes that there is un unseen war on all fronts. We wrestle, not with flesh and blood, but woth world rules of this darkness. For the Christian, all of life is war. There is no moment of the day where this is not true. The world, the flesh, and the devil are always at work.
These words are written by the same man who told us Christ has been exalted far above all supernatural powers -- and that we are united with Christ in his exaltation. But Paul knows that while that is true, it is not yet actual in experience. The "now" and the "not yet" go hand in hand.
But this is nor ordinary combat. As real as it is, the Savior has already triumphed. By his death he put the demonic hordes to an open shame. By his death he broke the power of the one who ruled death. By his death and resurrecion he undid the works of the devil.
Any Christian, alert to daily life, knows that they are up against powers that are greater than man can muster. People outside of Christ are stubbornly blind to obvious truth. People in Christ experience fierce assaults upon their minds and strong temptation speak to their hearts.
But in Christ there is all the strength that is necessary to stand. When we lay hold of Christ, we are on safe ground. Listen HERE for more.
