The Battle

A friend just found out that there is a war on.  It is not a far away battle, but close enough to kill him.  In fact, the war rages against him.  He's a good husband and father and he did not believe that in spite of his warm character, there are those who hate him.  There are those who hate him enough to kill him, his family, and anyone who gets in the way.   

And he was caught totally off guard.  Once the attack came, he realized how out of shape he was, and how unprepared for battle his life up until that point had made him.  He had spent too long being nice and good and kind, and he avoided the frenzy of combat.  He thought the worst of the violence would pass him by.  But he was wrong.

He called me because when I found out about the war, it happened the same way.  I was caught unprepared.  I had no weapon, no training and no appetite for battle.  I was fat and happy staying out of the fray - leaving the fight to the trained.  I didn't go looking for a fight, but the fight came to me.  Though I was hit hard, knocked down and left for dead, I was not killed.  But I was gravely wounded.  As I healed, I decided that the fight would not catch me unaware ever again, and so I train.  Every day I find muscles that are unprepared to participate in mortal conflict, so I train.  I had a sword, but I had no idea how to wield it.  I will not be caught without my sword again, so it travels with me.  I train with it daily, even when there is little time to train, because the next time I may not be so lucky.  The next time, he will know I am hard to kill, so the attack will be bloodier than before. 

I train, but not for my fight alone.  My brother, my comrade-in-arms is wounded.  The battle rages on his doorstep, and he is untrained.  He may not survive because he too has misplaced his sword.  He needs my help, and so I go.  I may not return, but I will not leave him to die alone. 

We need help, and yet I know so few others who train.  The battle surely will come to them in time.  If we do not survive, who will come to their aid?  Where is our army?  Please send troops.

"Do not gloat over me, my enemies.  For though I fall, I will rise again.  Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light."  Micah 7:8

"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.  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm."  Ephesians 6:12-13