Preparing for War

A Time for War

War is not something commonly sought out or looked forward to with positive excitement. However, there are times when war is brought upon a people or the call to fight is necessary. It is in these times that a nation prepares to fight, by putting in place the necessary provisions and training that the future soldiers will need. It would be foolish (and devastating) for a nation to enter a conflict unprepared to fight, as would it be for every individual soldier.

The Spiritual Battlefield

Christians find themselves in a similar situation, although the players and the battlefield are very different. Christians are not seeking to wage war upon others, at least not in a physical or temporal sense. However, a war has been brought upon us – the same war being waged from before the creation of man. This is a spiritual war into which Christians are thrown because they have chosen to ally themselves with the side of God and His Son Christ.

Because of this situation, God and Christ have made provision and the means of training available to Christian soldiers. Paul describes the “armor of God” (Eph. 6) in terms of a spiritual simile – very real spiritual provisions for a very real fight. The armor is not all that is provided, however. Man is also given a sword – a weapon for offense to meet the enemy in a fight.

Responding to the Call

So, how does the Christian respond to such a call to arms, to the provision of armor and weaponry? Simply having the equipment does not create a competent solider. Training and “seeing action” are the only things that can make a veteran.

The word of God is truly a devastating weapon against the forces of evil. For the Christian it stands as the only weapon that can be brought against Satan. Because of the sword’s great potency and use, why would anyone choose to never train with it? To train with the sword requires knowing it and studying it – being diligent to be found “approved to God as a workman…accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, NASU). Because the battle is raging all around us every day, why would a Christian never “see action”? Battle is certain if we stand “ready to make a defense…for the hope” that we have (1 Pet. 3:15).

History has shown that to succeed in war a nation must be well prepared. How well prepared are we to fight in the most important battle of all time?