For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (New American Standard Bible)
There is a phrase most people who served in the military during World War II remember; “In for the duration.” It meant that during a time of war once you were in the military you couldn’t leave it until the war was over. My own father was drafted in May of 1941 for a two year stint. All of that changed when war was declared the following December and he was in to the finish finally being discharged at the end of 1945. The ‘duration’ for Dad turned out to be an additional 2 ½ years in the Army Air Force.
The apostle Paul tells us we are in a very dangerous and extended war. It is a war not fought in physical arenas but in spiritual realms. This war was declared way back in Genesis when Satan moved to destroy mankind’s relationship with his Maker. It is a fact, whether saint or sinner, everyone is in this spiritual war for the duration and we’re in it whether we like it or not. The saint fights to bring God’s light, grace and love to the battlefield called Earth and the sinner struggles to find meaning and spiritual peace in a fight he is not even aware he is in.
This war will end when the Prince of Peace vanquishes Satan forever. Christ in His great authority and power will bring a universal kingdom of eternal righteousness and harmony. True peace can only come through Him. Meanwhile if we do not fight we remain Satan’s targets of opportunity for his intense hatred of us will not allow him to rest in his mission to destroy Adam’s seed. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world but they are from Christ our Commander. We may be in for the duration but there’s no worry as to who will be the winner when we are finally discharged.
Ken
