Imagine sending soldiers into battle without weapons or any necessary equipment for battle. Without question the enemy will have a field day charging headlong into defenseless positions and overtaking them. Empty handed soldiers could never really defend themselves.

A Christian is a spiritual soldier.  His adversary is the devil and his evil co-workers (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15). He is attacking the Christian on a continuous basis (1 Peter 5:8). The devil has attacked everyone that has lived on the earth. The devil has never failed to cause his victims to sin and become lost. Dear reader, this includes you and I. At some point in every accountable person’s life they sin and the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10,23).

A Christian has Divinely issued armor and weapon. Christians are given a very powerful sword and strong defenses with which to win his battle with the enemy. That sword is the everlasting word of God and his defense is Biblical information that he places in his heart (Eph. 6:10-18; Col. 3:16). To equip oneself the Christian needs to study, meditate, memorize, believe and then live the word of the Lord (2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 7:21; Heb. 11:6). Prayer is also necessary for victory. Jesus prayed when He was about to face a notable spiritual battle as in the case of His arrest and trial (Matt. 26:36-46).

A Christian can win the victory and enjoy everlasting life.  1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Like Paul, each of us must fight the good fight, finish our course, keep the faith, and then the Lord will reward us with the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Yes, the Christian can be victorious.

A Christian can also lose the battle. Soldiers that do not put on the whole armor and do not take up the sword are going to lose. The Bible is full of examples: 2 Sam. 11-12 David suffered defeat; 1 Kings 11, Solomon was defeated; Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira lost their souls; 2 Timothy 4:10, Demas was a defector and lost his soul. The Bible is not a book of fairy tales, these people sinned grievously before God and Heaven’s anger is seen in the cases of David, Solomon, Ananias and Sapphira.

Christians that do not study their Bibles, pray and worship God on a continuous basis are, in fact, an unarmed soldier that will lose his spiritual battle. Ultimately the unarmed soldier will lose his soul if he does not take action. When we allow sin into our lives we will also reap the fruit of sadness and misery. Arm yourselves brethren and fight with all your strength the great battle that we are presently in.

Richard Massey

“speaking the truth