THE DAYS ARE EVIL
Christ’s victory on the cross strengthens “the whole armour of God.” This is a spiritual tool our Lord God has given us as Christians to put on to stand firm against temptation because the evil days are here right now. “We are at the point in time in our world right now.”
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” [Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV]
Fellow believers, let us be ready for the battle of unknowns and the unseen because the times are full of immoral practices, politicking, coercion, intimidation and spiritual challenges.
What is black or white to one person is something else. Today, some people may argue that, in their eyes, black is white and white is black. This isn’t conventionally or naturally persuasive, but it is the socio-political world we live in.
The world is on the cliffhanger. These are troubles if you encounter them. But don’t be dismayed. It is the “point in time we live in the world” today.
We cannot see two different things; instead, we see them as similar objects or colours, whereas others see them otherwise, and as wholly different. We can’t see the difference between a man and a woman. Sometimes, we can’t even define or explain who is who, and which is which.
The Scripture tells us that: “For the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.” [1 Timothy 1:7, ESV ]. The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the young Pastor Timothy, who was facing hardships at the time.
So, as Christians, we are called to stand in faith and trust, with confidence that nothing is impossible for the one and only true God at any “point in time in our world” of confusion and pandemonium, to say the least.
Believers in Christ, we are at a “point in time in our world” that is setting the stage for what is to come next, as the word of God has echoed. It is a spiritual warfare, not physical. There’s more in the world than we can see with our natural eyes. Mind you.
Sadly, many professing Christians have given up before the battle starts. But we should remind ourselves that when the physical has troubles, we must be watchful and use our eyes of faith through the lens of the spirit, and arm ourselves with the armour of the Lord.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”[Ephesians 6:12, ESV]
We are in a spiritual warfare whether we know it or not. To say you are not aware is a flat denial, and you don’t want to acknowledge the reality of spiritual warfare as a Christian at this age. The fight is not against physical mortals, but against unseen evil forces.
We are living in an extraordinary era of exceptionally fast transformation, where technological breakthroughs in humanoid and non-humanoid robots are replacing humans. Are we replacing God-breathed soul creations with “Artificial Intelligence”?
Our minds are being prepared for robotic swing toys with worldwide interdependence to reshape every aspect of human life. Are we replacing God’s creation with plastics and electrical wired fibres?
We have reached a critical turning point. We face major choices, but as Christians we are urged to stand firm in our faith and avoid wavering. The path we pick will change the future of our relationship with our Lord. The “schemes” are crafty lies, deceit, and traps meant to break our trust, our faith and our reliance on God.
But as Christians, we should rely on God’s wisdom for instructions rather than shifting with political and cultural pressures and doubts. It is time to put on the armour that represents active traits like truth, righteousness, faith, and God’s word as our defence.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:12, ESV.]
If you are a Christian at this point in our history, it is of your spiritual interest to discern that we are in a spiritual battle of some sort daily.
In warfare, battles are fought on different fronts, for different reasons, and with varying intensity. The same is true in spiritual warfare.
My fellow Christians, our spiritual battles and warfare are real, even though we cannot physically see the attacker.
Forces, both angelic and demonic, are actively working around us 24/7, year-round. We fight evil in our spiritual warfare. They never rest nor sleep.
Jesus told us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven. Matthew 6:9–13 states: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
The enemy will attack from all angles, hoping to deter people from giving their heart to Jesus. It is time to stop sleeping at the wheel and get up to put on our “whole armour of God,” ready to do warfare at all times.
The Enemy’s Devices: The enemy’s plans are unorthodox and will use every window of opportunity to come at you. For instance, financial hardships, employment difficulties, and discord between friends and families that eventually create doubts in the mind.
Most of the time, we don’t even think seriously about these battles at the beginning and would think it’s normal, but let me remind you that it’s not normal.
These battles are fought in the world, but involve the spiritual forces of darkness in the invisible sphere surrounding us in our environments.
So, as we face these spiritual conflicts, let us seek the Lord in prayer as we fight this spiritual warfare so that he will furnish us with the armour of faith.
And as we do, the Lord will use his truth to protect us from the enemy’s deceit. Let us have faith in the Lord’s ability to keep us safe from both harm and the enemy’s deception.
Let us seek the Lord to provide us with a discerning spirit to see through the enemy’s strategies and the wisdom to manage these challenges with strength from the Holy Spirit.
The days are evil, and without the armour of God and a discerning spirit, we can never see first and attack.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” [James 1:6, ESV].
From the Scripture above, James instructs and encourages believers to ask God for wisdom with true faith without wavering.
He compares a doubting person to a wave driven by the wind. In effect, you will get nothing since you have no faith in receiving what you have asked.
We are free to make choices as Christians, but if it is a bad choice, we are not free of the consequences. It’s a bit of an “opportunity cost”. So if we ask God for anything and we doubt, the cost is zero: you receive nothing.
At this point in our human history, the Christian cannot afford to lose spiritual and physical battles because you declare that “greater is He who is in you than those in the world.”
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world, and I walk in total victory through Christ.” [1 John 4:4, ESV].
Let us declare and decree by the power and blood of Jesus that the plans and purposes of God for our life will prevail, and every plot of the enemy is exposed and cancelled “at this point in time of our world.”
The times are evil, but the Lord is with us, and we will prevail with victory. As Christians, it is the will of the Lord for us to understand his desire to help his people to avoid the traps of an evil society – a world that opposes God.
Walk wisely rather than wasting time on imprudent actions – keep the Faith and keep Hope alive at this “point in time of our world.”
May the Lord bless you until next time.
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