Do you ever feel that you are in the midst of a spiritual battle? You are. We all are. The battle is good vs. evil. It has been that way since the Garden of Eden. The unseen spiritual world is real and all around us. Sometimes we are aware of the spiritual realm and sometimes we are not, but it is always present. People tend to either underestimate or overestimate the reality of Satan. To underestimate is to think Satan is a fictional super villain. Those who overestimate him, credit him with an overabundance of power. The reality is that human beings are no match for Satan. But Satan is no match for God. The good news is that the battle between good and evil has already been won. Satan was defeated by Christ at the cross. We fight from victory and not for victory over sin and death. But we live surrounded by evil every day of our earthly existence. It is up to us to recognize it and be prepared for battle daily. Sometimes we can feel the intensity of the battle. Sometimes the battle is even at our front door, in our home, in our nation.

Because Satan hates God, he also hates men and women, boys and girls who are the pinnacle of God's creation. Satan also hates the family which God established for the nurturing of children and as the basis for society. God’s design is for children to have a mother and father. The animals entered the ark two by two, male and female. Our sexual identity is chosen by God. There is nothing to think about or try to figure out here. The gender of each person was chosen by God the creator of the universe in our mother’s womb. This is not something to be argued, debated, or concerned about. Perfection cannot be improved upon. God doesn't make mistakes.

So where did the issue of sexual and gender confusion come from? In all of creation the animals are male and female. They don't seem one bit confused about it and don't really pay any attention to it. They know what to do to procreate their kind and they know how to nurture their offspring. It is inherent in them because that is how God made them. Perhaps they have a better understanding of God than humans do. Why is it that humans made in the image of God with the mental capacity to think, reason, and make decisions, rather than follow primal instincts, choose instead to set themselves up as their own gods.

I have witnessed in my lifetime the moral decline of my country. Could it be because we have turned our backs on God? We have allowed God to be eliminated from schools, institutions, conversations, and every public forum imaginable. But God will not be cancelled. He can, and has, cancelled nations that do not honor Him. I believe we are standing at a great precipice right now. Christians cannot remain complacent. This is a time for taking a stand and speaking up for the Lord and for righteousness. We can no longer sit on the proverbial fence, walk the middle of the road, and be politically neutral so as not to offend anyone. We are offending God!! And He is the One we should care most about pleasing!

Often in difficult situations, compromise is the best option. But this does not apply to matters of spiritual warfare. Compromise is not possible when it pertains to good vs. evil. We are at such a place in our nation right now. We must pick a side and stand firm.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. . . . Ephesians 6:10-17

Fighting on for Jesus,

Elsie