Today's passage is from
Paul's letter to Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man—and, by
extension, every believer—to face difficulty as a good soldier. The military
term "soldier" implies that we are in a battle. And in fact, the
combat started before Adam and Eve's lifetime.
We see the first
evidence when almighty God, who had created all the celestial beings, nevertheless
allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter known as "demons") to
rebel against Him. They established their own kingdom and waged war with the
Lord.
Later we see this strife
extend to all humankind. In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to violate
God's command by eating forbidden fruit. Her disobedience corrupted mankind's
innocence, and ever since, all human beings have been born with a nature bent
away from the Lord—and with a profound need for a Savior.
Tempted by Satan in the
wilderness, Jesus modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict: by means
of Scripture. God's Word gives us everything we need to win—from offensive and
defensive weapons (Eph. 6:10-17) to the proper perspective on our adversaries'
real identity: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12).
When we see ungodliness
in our society, the Enemy may at times seem to be winning. Yet we who are saved
have assurance that we belong to Him who is greater—and who will have the final
victory (1 John 4:4; John 16:33). View daily battles biblically and look to
God, who is mightier than all evil.
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