“God’s not doing this! Don’t you know you are at war?!” My friend, a missionary in Africa, was quite adamant. He had commented on the struggles several of us were going through and I had simply replied, “I hope we’re learning the lessons we’re supposed to learn.” This was not meant to be a summarizing statement on pain and suffering, but it started a fire within my friend. He clearly sees “the war” in the mission field and he wanted me to know we are all in it. “Satan hates you. He hates your Message and he hates your life. He does not just hate missionaries, he hates all who are sold out to the Master.”
I don’t think my friend would argue that we learn much as we go through struggle, but he would say, “That’s not the main point.” Those who have declared that “Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King” have entered a war. Be aware.
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from the Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers…” Why did the one who wrote most of the letters in the New Testament encounter such hardship? Was God against him? Of course not… the Lord had chosen him! “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name.”
Jesus was not saying, “This guy has been My enemy, so I’m going to pay him back.” Rather, when He revealed Himself to Saul, He knew everything was going to change. A zealous man, who had been imprisoning Christians, was about to fall in love with Christ. A subject to the kingdom of darkness was about to enter the kingdom of light. A man who had been confused was about to see clearly. And Jesus knew that the same enemy who opposed Him would oppose Paul. Paul was entering a war… in which he would suffer and eventually die. But in the journey, he would find abundant life and true hope. Be encouraged by his words.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy 4:6-8
“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” I Timothy 6:12-16
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19