The War Around Us

***Originally posted on June 17th***
Joel 3:11 "Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD!"

Most of us go about our lives working, socializing, making plans, just simply living our lives, unaware of a battle that rages around us every day. There are even those who are aware of it but could care less, burying this knowledge in the back of their minds. Some are aware of it and decide to fight for the wrong side. And lastly, there are the few who decide to pick up their sword and join the outnumbered ranks.

Psalm 18:39 "You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet."
Psalm 144:1 "Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."

Watch movies like Star Wars or The Matrix, read books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, and many will see nice, little pieces of fiction. What we fail to realize is how true to life these fictional examples can be. They represent a battle that is happening all around us, unseen but just as real as the air you breath.

Psalm 55:18 "He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me."
Proverbs 21:31 "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD."

I'm not talking about a physical war and I'm not referring to Iraq, North Korea, Iran, or whatever country is currently experiencing turmoil. I'm talking about the hidden war, the war behind the scenes, the war in the spiritual realm. Whether we believe in God and/or Satan, they both believe in you and they are both fighting for your soul. This is not a war for oil, a war for territory, a war to reclaim freedom, a war to prevent genocide, even a world war. This is a war for the human race.

Revelation 16:14 "They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty."
Judges 6:12 "When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.'"

Whether you want to be or not, you are involved in this war. Unfortunately, we are all born to one side. From that day forward, you were engaged in battle. We must be won over and then daily choose to fight. To do nothing is to fight for the side of evil. In this day and age, one might look around, noticing which side has the advantage, controls the most territory, appears the best armed. But the outcome of the battle is already decided.

Revelation 20:7-10 "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

I am a Benedict Arnold no longer. I don't win every battle but I have decided which side of the war I'm on. And as my armor grows stronger, as my shield becomes battered, as I train to use my sword, I will win more and more battles until one day I am victorious. I know which side I have choosen. If you fight for the enemy, you have already lost.

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."