PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people, (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
As Christians, we should not be surprised with what is happening to our society today. The chaos and depravity besetting our present world are already predicted in the Bible. The wars and rumors of wars, kingdoms against kingdoms, nations against nations, natural disasters, such as earthquakes, famines and plagues are mentioned by our LORD JESUS CHRIST in Matthew 24.
What’s concerning though are some adverse outlook and responses of many, even Christians towards these current issues. Some are scared to the core. Some are stressed out that they stop reading newspapers or watching news on TV. Some are complacent. They simply don’t care. Probably they don’t know what is happening and how alarming these events can be. They tend to look only on the natural to answer their questions.
One puzzling issue is the war in Israel. Hatred for GOD’s chosen people is even from time immemorial. Looking at this in the geopolitical perspective does not explain enough. But understanding these in the Biblical point of view is essential. It’s very clear in the Scripture that there is a battle raging in the spiritual realm even before the creation of man. There was a rebellion that took place in eternity past led by satan and his cohorts, Isaiah 14:12, Ezekiel 28:17. From then on the enemy is vent up on destroying the plans, the purposes, and the people of the Most High GOD. The apostle Paul is very much aware of this in Ephesians 6:10-19:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of GOD, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
It’s very clear. We don’t fight people. We don’t fight our in-laws, neighbors, spouses and the like. Our real enemy is the devil, who always seek to steal, to kill, and to destroy, John 10:10. Furthermore, we don’t battle in the physical arena. Once the enemy is able to lure us to fight in the flesh, we are at his mercy.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Paul instructed the Ephesians to put on the full armor of GOD in taking their stand against the devil’s schemes, Ephesians 6:13-18:
Therefore put on the full armor of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD.
And PRAY in the SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of PRAYERS and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on PRAYING for all the LORD’s people.
