Spiritual Warfare

Early on, after being born again, I was told about a phenomenon called “spiritual warfare.” Never gave it much thought, though — until tonight. Suddenly, I realize it is very real. Darkness against light. Folks who used to be friends, respecting one another, now “looking down their noses” at one another with disdain and disrespect, accounting them as adversaries, if not as arch enemies.

Like a simpleton, I puzzled over this burgeoning hate, this tidal wave of animosity, and finding no real answers, I chose to ignore it. No longer. Like a tsunami, each wave is deeper and longer flooding over fields and farms, houses and villages. Whole cultures lost! There is no hiding from it. There is no escaping from it. Our great Earth floating in the lonely void of the Universe… The sun might as well turn to darkness, for the deepest darkness flooding over us is covering our minds, our hearts, and yes, even our souls.

Maybe most cannot see it. Yet, it is by denial, by cynicism and unbelief — not by persuasion. If a dullard like myself, slow to catch on, slow to awake, if someone like me can see it clearly, I know this particular blindness is by deliberate choosing. Individuals choose not to see and instinctively join into social groups of the like-minded for preserving evolutionary security, Science might say, to protect self-justification, psychologists might say. But just because everybody’s “doing it” it doesn’t make “it” right. Right?

Here’s my reasoning for a solution that few will likely entertain, but I will give to you anyways, as straight as I can, and I will never lie to you. (But I wouldn’t trust me, either. Blind faith isn’t faith at all.) Listen:

Jesus said this would happen. Conditions will continue to deteriorate until the conclusion of God’s plan. Because people reject God’s plan, reject who Jesus is, and assert the Bible is fantasy, and therefore refuse to reach out for His salvation*, they will become more and more delusional. (* — Google definition of “salvation” — “preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss”) People have their reasons, I suppose… but answer me this:

You cannot understand why all the various conspiracy theories are flourishing? You cannot fathom why you cannot reason with people who believe in them? You wonder why they cannot give you facts, and so, discussion becomes impossible? You cannot understand the growing anger, hate, and vituperativeness in interactions with others, some once friends?

Look. If someone refuses to turn on the lights, they will remain sitting in the dark. If someone will not come near the campfire, they will remain out in the cold. Nevertheless, if Jesus cannot convince you to come in from the rain, if you are refusing His invitation, you probably will reject my persuasions as foolish blathering. The flood is coming. The tsunami is already here.

I will not lie to you.