“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:11-13
“These are the times that try men’s souls.”These words echo down for over two centuries from our founding forefathers. Our forefathers knew that while people are virtuous, they will not be subdued. But they repeatedly sounded the alarm that when people abandon their virtue, they will have surrendered the strength necessary to maintain their institutions and ward off the wiles of the enemy.
Due to putting passion ahead of principle, people often find themselves in positions they don’t necessarily agree with, maybe don’t even believe in! This accounts for people being caught up in taking courses of action that even they know are not God’s will and way.
To reflect on the insurmountable task of uniting the colonists who were themselves diverse from each other, into a united people to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to fight for independence, one may ask, “How could this be done?” It certainly could notbe done by debating issues or personal feelings. This would only bring out the endless flow of doubts, fears, and misgivings, which would just be overwhelming. So rather than debate the issues, which would magnify objections, they wisely chose to debate principles, which would challenge each individual to work through their own issues in order to come to the support of the right objective, to unite in fighting the tyranny that was the common enemy of all.
As Christians, let us awaken to this wisdom unto virtue. We must not bog down in our individual issues. We must first see the necessity to sidestep individual issues and give ourselves over to earnestly contending for Biblical principles. This will allow the fires of fleshly passion to die out, so we can become whole again, with the grace of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit setting us upright again. This devotion of one’s inner man to embrace God’s principles, will produce inward carefulness, inward cleansing, inward desire and resolve, that will enable one to work through their issues unto clearing themselves of those things that are not right. Once this clearing has occurred, the love and zeal for what is right can once again prevail for fruitful and constructive living.
GOD CONTINUES HIS CALL TO RETURN TO HIS PRINCIPLES!
SHARING
