“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
There are so many American men and women that are fighting around the world today for our freedom. Every day, they face unknown dangers, and many of our brave military personnel pay the ultimate price.
God has an army, too. There are two parts to it. One part is the special forces unit. Those in this group fight those battles for us that take place in the heavenly realms. Their battles are not against flesh and blood, but rather “…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
The second division consists of the troops here on earth. You may have heard of some of God’s soldiers who never wavered from their stand for Christ, even giving their lives for Him. People like William Tyndale, Jim Elliott, John Bunyan, and so many others. There are also many in the Bible who were killed for their faith. (Hebrews 11:36-37)
Paul writes to Timothy that he should “fight the good fight of faith.” No matter what, Timothy should stand up for Christ despite the temptations of the world that seek to destroy the Christian. Timothy is reminded that things like lust, love of money, pride, inerrant teachings must also be fought against to preserve the faith.
I realize that I, too, must fight to preserve my faith. There are factions in this world that seek to destroy everything that my faith in Jesus represents. I cannot be a passive Christian. I have to take my stand just like those who fought so hard to protect it long ago. What can I do? First, I must be sure of what I believe and why. 2 Peter 2:1 warns “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
Christians should always compare what they are taught against what is actually written in the Word of God. We are to be as the Bereans in Acts 17 because “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Part of my fight to preserve my faith is to be sure I am receiving the true Word of God.
My pastor always has Scripture references throughout the messages he brings to us. This enables us to check what he says against what God has recorded in the Bible. We are reminded that we should have our Bibles with us in church, and we should make it a practice to read it daily. It is part of the armor of God, and like any good soldier, we must be fully equipped for the battles we are sure to face. In Ephesians 6:17, we are told the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. No one goes into a fight unarmed. We must be prepared because we are in the fight of our lives! It is our very practice of faith and worship that is on the line!
While it is true that God will not be defeated, that doesn’t mean we are to be complacent in our Christian life. I know Revelation records that in the end God is the victor, and I know the “battle belongs to the Lord,” but that does not mean we are to be passive in our Christianity. Quite the contrary, in Ephesians 6, we are instructed to be ready for battle!
If we choose to be on the sidelines, we will lose so much. For example, if we do not vote for individuals who uphold godly principles, the result will be a nation that will embrace everything wicked and evil, while criminalizing Christianity. We’ve already seen that happen in other countries around the world.
Maybe you’re thinking, “How can I fight for my faith?” Well, for starters, use the things of the world to your advantage. Use social media to share the gospel, to make known your positions on certain issues. Invite people you know to church; share your testimony of how Jesus changed your life; support causes that promote Biblical godliness. Learn about issues that impact our practice of faith and worship. Be a voice for Christ, but be a voice that is bathed in love. Words of anger and hatred will not further the cause of Christ. Ephesians 4:15 tells us “But speaking the truth in love…” While it may be cliché to use this phrase, I try to ask myself, “What would Jesus say or do in this situation?” Then I try to act accordingly.
Is it easy? Nope. I make lots of mistakes. But like a faithful soldier, I cannot quit. I have to get my act together and continue the fight. I am not called to be a general in the Lord’s army. I am called to be a foot soldier. I must follow my orders and uphold my code of conduct. Both are found in the Bible. I must obey my commanding officer, and that is Jesus. I am to obey and follow Him to the front lines and beyond.
Our ability to practice what we believe is at stake. We must all take a stand and “fight the good fight of faith” or one day there will be nothing left in this country for us to stand up and defend. If that happens, what kind of world will our children and grandchildren face in their lives? One without God? May it never be!
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
(from “Stand Up For Jesus” by George Duffield, Jr.)
“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S…” 1 Samuel 17:47
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God’s army is all volunteer. Will you join?