Can you be trusted with the treasury of God’s revealed Truth (2 Timothy 1:14)? Are you a worthy guardian of “the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 3)?” Are you faithful to God in diligently proclaiming His uncompromised instruction–and in your own steadfast obedience to it (2 Timothy 2:15)? Do you vigorously uphold and defend God’s Word against those who do not (2 Timothy 4:2)? By doing anything less, you invite the wounding of Scripture–and the devil will thank you for your lack of devotion.
According to our Lord, there is no “neutral ground” on the spiritual battlefield in this world: “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters (Luke 11:23).” Like waves crashing upon the seashore, Satan’s assault is unrelenting. As such, there can be no complacency on the part of those who claim allegiance to the Commander of the Universe.
Do you disagree? Look around you and scan the headlines. Are not the very foundations upon which civilization has advanced being eroded? Are not some of them all but washed away already?
If we are either waiting for, or trusting in, social programs and the government to halt the slide, we would do just as well to turn coat and march with the enemy. What the world needs now is not “a little bit of love” or wide-spread “political correctness,” what the world needs now is major, reconstructive surgery according to the redemptive prescription of the Master Physician.
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that only God can change the sick and crippled heart of man (Ezekiel 36:26; Matthew 19:26, 15:19; Jeremiah 17:9). The best that any other means can do is to simply modify behavior for a time. The only hope for victory in this world is to champion God’s plan for salvation, and then bank on His Character for the everlasting results (Mark 16:15; Luke 12:56-59, 13:3,5).
If we are not willing to be foot soldiers for the gospel, God has no use for us among the ranks of His faithful, and we will be a liability to His campaign of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Let us take stock now. Do we keep our knowledge and conveyance of Scripture sharply honed–or do we just “go with what we’ve got” at any given time and “hope for the best?” Equally inept is to maintain excellent spiritual acumen and readiness, but then rarely (if ever) bring our weapons to bear on the battlefield. Keeping battle-ready without actually entering into the battle indicates that we either do not trust in God and take Him at His Word, or that we are not truly devoted to Him and His Kingdom purposes in this world. Along these lines, Scottish Theologian Oswald Chambers once wrote, “A ship in the harbor is secure–but in time its bottom will rot out.”
While every person’s role on the spiritual front is certainly not the same, there is none-the-less a vital role for each and every one of God’s people (Ephesians 2:10, 3:8). There are to be no “bystanders” among God’s children with respect to His war on sin—or in His ultimate victory procession. All believers are to glory in both events.
“Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…(1 Timothy 6:12)”
With all confidence in eternal security (John 10:28-29), and in all diligence (2 Peter 1:5-11), we are commanded to embrace the battle (2 Timothy 2:3).
