Waging War

War is ugly. No matter how well the conflict is handled, the realities of war are ugly. This is all the more obvious when the wars are handled poorly. As Christians, we know we are in a spiritual war every day. This entire site is dedicated to equipping Christians for this war, which Paul called the constant battle between our sinful nature and the nature of the Holy Spirit. 

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Galatians 5:17)

In the second chapter of 1 Peter, Peter wrote about the worldly desires that wage war against our souls, and what we can do about it. 

“Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” (1 Peter 2:11)

Peter reminds us that we are temporary residents, foreigners in this world. It doesn’t always feel like that; we can tend to make this place feel very comfortable, but keeping away from the worldly desires that wage war against our souls will help us keep an eternal perspective. As we continue to fight against the desires of this world, we can see that this world is temporary and not our true and permanent home. 

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” (‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:11-12)‬‬

Peter takes it a step further, beyond keeping an eternal perspective on our time in this world, and he puts the focus on how we should live among our unbelieving neighbors. Peter says if we live honorably among them, they will see our honorable behavior and give honor to God when he judges the world. It’s not always easy to live among unbelieving neighbors, and the Devil, that old Serpent, would love for us to believe that the war is against those unbelieving neighbors.

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We do not fight against flesh-and-blood enemies; our enemies are of the unseen world. So think of an unbelieving, flesh-and-blood neighbor of yours and consider that he/she may give honor to God when He judges the world because of the example of right-living that you set. That is a responsibility we do not need to take lightly. Let us be sure to strive every day to live properly among our unbelieving neighbors so that they may give honor to God when He judges the world. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.