Yesterday we began talking about war and hostility. Today, I want to continue that subject with a further look at society’s bend on it and how it capitalizes, not just on war, but fear itself. To illustrate the point, consider one of the best-selling books in our society’s recent past: Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. It has been recommended to many businessmen as a primer for business success. From that one book alone, spinoffs abounded. These include The Art of War in Business, The Art of War for Managers, The Art of War and Its General Applications in Business, The Art of War and Marketing, The Art of War and Small Business, The Art of War and Sales, Business Management and the Art of War, The Art of War and Winning, Leadership is a Skill Tested Under the Fire of War and Business, Ancient Chinese Advice for Modern Business Strategists, and Mastering the Art of War for Managers. These are each touted as must-reads if you want to know how to get ahead! Can there be any doubt that if selfishness and greed exist, war will ensue?

The truth is that your way of life is on the line when you wake up every day. Whether you want to believe it or not, there are people in this and every other country that will cut off your arm to get your watch. Some people will stab you from behind to take your wallet and credit cards. Most people accept and believe these dangerous realities. However, even professed believers refuse to face the fact that the same ruthlessness and intent to harm others is just as prominent in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical realm. Moreover, the significance of spiritual warfare is much more profound, as it impacts our eternal lives rather than our temporal lives.

Today, mankind has collected so much documentation that we now accept just about anybody’s premise simply because it belongs to a recognized information base. Even in seminary I was told to state my premise and then prove it with documentation. But ponder this: two of the strongest powers in both the physical and spiritual worlds are love and hate, neither of which can be seen. They are the antithesis of each other; yet it takes only one of these emotions to start a war. The fact that you cannot see the invisible Kingdom does not mean it does not exist, any more than not seeing the wind means it does not exist. Considering all aspects of war is thus a necessity for any believer.

The warrior mentality is used repeatedly in the Bible to show believers an appropriate mindset. I believe it is illustrated so frequently because of its connection with reality, and the reality is that tomorrow is not promised, especially to a warrior. Whether we choose to admit it or not, we are all warriors to some extent, and the sooner we realize it and apply it to our daily mentality, we will never truly be successful in our life’s endeavors.

In the days ahead we are going to talk about the underlying theme of war and hostility in context of our lives. Our churches have taught us grace, love and peace well, but they have not done a good job of keeping the context of life on earth’s reality, God’s Sovereignty, as well as His mindset of Justice and dealing with sin. We cannot take tomorrow for granted any more than we can take a job or a person for granted. They are all gifts to position us for our role in the Kingdom. Yet, we must not fear. Just remember this: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Love Dad