CALLED TO A CONFLICT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 31, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 31.

CALLED TO A CONFLICT.

There is one war to which the Christian is called, and in which there is no furlough nor discharge till the war is ended and final victory is won.

This conflict is not against human beings. It is not against other Christians, tho diverse in creed or practise. It is not against Mohammedans, nor against Parsees, nor Buddhists, nor idolaters, nor infidels. “For our wrestling [fighting] is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12, R.V.

Our warfare being spiritual, against the invisible spirits of evil, it is not waged with carnal weapons. “For tho we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh.” 2 Cor. 10:3, 4, R.V.

The Christian’s armor is spiritual, even as his foes. “Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; withal take up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication.” Eph. 6:13-18, R.V.

But this spiritual armor is not the less effective because invisible and intangible to mortal, fleshly touch. Nay, it is the only effective armor; it is “the armor of God,” “mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds.” 2 Cor. 10:4.

The principal field of the warfare is the flesh of the warrior. “For I know,” says one of the most stalwart ones in God’s army, “that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” Rom. 7:18. Base passions there strive for the mastery. Hatred, lust, covetousness, pride, envy, laziness, love of ease, gluttony, desire of praise, and a hundred other things hold hellish revel or wage fierce battle to enthrall forever him in whose flesh they dwell, and that is every soul of earth. Satan shoots his fiery darts into this inflammable material and sets it “on fire of hell.” His agents do all in their power to destroy by suggestion and temptation. His slaves, other humans, are, willingly or unwillingly, thrust into the conflict. But he who is clad in God’s armor wins.

Faith puts Christ between him and the darts of the enemy. The righteousness of Christ covers the erstwhile sinful heart. Truth binds the armor to the man. Hope makes of none effect the bludgeon blows of malice and hate. The sword of the Spirit, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, puts to death the evil desires which rise up for the mastery. Heb. 4:12; Rom. 8:13. Watchfulness and prayer with such an armor render the soul invulnerable, and do what no warrior of earth has ever done—“casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5.

The armor and its various pieces are symbolical of what is within. No man puts on God’s breastplate unless righteousness is enthroned in the heart. No man can wear God’s helmet who does not possess an intelligent hope of salvation. No soul can wear the shining girdle who is not demonstrating in his own life the sanctifying power of the truth. No man becomes an ambassador of peace to those alienated from God who has not first made peace with his King. No soul will be able to use the shield of God’s panoply unless faith has wrought its purifying work within.

“But what about the people who oppose the Gospel of Christ?” asks a militant Christian. “What about those who trample down our Sabbath, use its sacred hours in sporting, gambling, revelling? What about those who massacre our missionaries?” The Christian soldier’s mission to them is peace, “peace to them that are far off, and to them that are nigh.” “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” All these foes are slaves of sin and Satan. The message of Christ to them, through every soldier of His army, through every ambassador of His court, is peace. God is not at enmity with them. He loves them. His children love them. They are at enmity with God. Only love will beget love. Beseech them in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to God, to accept Christ Jesus as an all-sufficient personal Saviour and Friend, mighty to the uttermost.

This is, in brief, the warfare to which is called the Christian. If he strive lawfully for his King, Christ Jesus, he will wear the eternal crown. 2 Tim. 2:4, 5. Victory is eternally assured in Christ Jesus. Such warfare contracts no bonded debt, save that of love to God, the burden of which strengthens. It leaves behind it no devastated land, no orphans’ cries, no widows’ wails, no graves, save those of our sins, buried forever in the great lost sea of oblivion.

O soul, unsatisfied with the disappointing pleasures of earth, whether rich or poor, free or bond, God calls you to this warfare. He is asking recruits for the army of Prince Immanuel. Will you not enlist, and that forever?