The Battle Is Real

"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
~Romans 13:12

This is one of my favorite verses, although, I have to admit, when I first read it in my youth, I had no idea what it meant. But being me, sort of like a dog with with a bone, I don't let go of anything until I have an understanding of the spiritual, physical and metaphysical meanings. I chewed on that verse for years! It may seem that elementary, it means to stop living in sin (darkness) and to live in the light (salvation). But I think it has a much deeper, richer meaning for us. 

In Jesus' day, and prior to His life on Earth, battles against invading armies we're common. When warriors rested at night they wore a different type of armor that was heavy and cumbersome. It served two purposes - to protect them from the elements, and to protect them from a sneak attack while they slept. When dawn approached, the took off the heavier armor for a lighter type that allowed more freedom of movement to engage their enemy in battle. 

In Romans 13:12, Paul uses this metaphor of taking off one thing and trading it for another. Certainly, when we experience salvation in Jesus Christ, we come out of the darkness of sin into the light of forgiveness and redemption. As we grow in Christ, we also take off the ignorance of not understanding our place in the Kingdom and put on the full maturity of Christ's nature.

"Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life' (John 8:12)."

When we contrast Romans with the above verse, we see that it is only by Jesus that we come out of the darkness that engulfs our souls. But it's there that the real battle begins. We are now on satan's hit list. The battle is real and we must fight like soldiers, fully covered in armor.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-13)."

When we look at the Old Testament, we see the physical battles the Children of Israel went through to possess the land promised to Abraham. Even then, the battle belonged to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:15). In every physical battle, there was a spiritual battle. When God's people did as the Lord said, the battle was won. When they ignored the Lord's commands, their enemies won. The battle remains the same for us. When we listen to the Lord and obey Him, victory is ours every time.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)."

Read 2 Samuel 1-4; 1 Chronicles 10

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