We live in a physical, material world. A world that can be measured, seen, and observed. That we can experiment upon and understand. And that is all there is. Isn’t it?
However, such a notion is foreign to many, if not most, of the people who walk upon this earth. And for those who have done so for millennia. For these people, the spiritual and supernatural are as familiar as the air that we breathe. Life is not limited to the physical, rather the significance of the spiritual is understood and embraced.
But for most of us who live in the West, this is not so.
As a child, I learnt that when something spiritually significant is about to occur, life tends to get complicated. This awareness has accompanied me into adulthood. People might get sick or injured, conversations might go sideways, and relationships become strained, all seemingly unrelated to the looming event. The aftermath can also be fraught as fatigue sets in, and our bodies respond physically to the demands that have been put upon us.
Of course, we can rationalise all this away. Surely there is no correlation? Who could possibly think that there is? Isn’t it dangerous to think otherwise?
In the preface to his book, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote,
There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape letters
Undoubtedly, for now, at least, the West has embraced the first of these errors.
But as a follower of Jesus, does this matter? Do entertaining such thoughts help us in any way? How should we approach the unseen? Are we to think that we are more enlightened than those who walked before us? And Jesus himself? What can we glean from the life of Christ and the Bible as a whole on this topic?
If we examine the life of Christ, the early church, and all that took place in the Old Testament, we discover a world very different from the one we live in. In that world, there was a knowledge of beings and powers beyond what can be seen with our eyes. We witness that throughout Jesus’ ministry, he frequently encountered people possessed by demons. We are told in detail of the temptations he faced, and how he dealt with those temptations.
It is easy to look at our lives and blame others when things go awry. To think that our enemies are those who have flesh and blood. But Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, tells us otherwise, he writes,
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6: 10-12
The picture that Paul draws here is frightening. If that is the world that we live in, what hope can we possibly have? But it is what Paul goes on to say that gives me comfort. He continues,
Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6: 13-17
I am not an expert in such matters. Despite my experiences from a young age, I am slow to recognise the fight that I am part of. I hesitate, as is probably natural for one born in this time and place, to attribute my experiences to spiritual causes. But, when I do, when I take the time to stand back, to take stock, to examine what is taking place, I often discover the distinctive marks of battle.
And the wonder of the armour with which we can clothe ourselves is that once it is on our whole perspective changes. My mind clears as I discover that the thoughts and fears that beset my mind were tricks of the enemy. For he surely likes nothing more than to see the people of God incapacitated, tempted, frail and weak. For us to forget who we really are and to instead embrace the lies that he tells us.
Father, Son and Spirit, help us to discern what is taking place around us. Thank you that you go before us. That we need never be afraid for you are with us. Teach us what it means to fight in your battle, to clothe ourselves in the armour that you have prepared for us. May we stand firm, today and always, in the strength of your power. Amen
Is this battle something you are aware of? Have you witnessed these forces at work in your life? Do you consciously clothe yourself with the armour of God? If so how does that change your experience?
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