Monsters
Fear tantalizes.
It is something that no one wants to experience on a personal level; however, excites them second hand.
This is increasingly obvious with the world’s saturated market depicting trivialized figures of horror and demise. Zombies, vampires, demons, and lately (One a bit more personal) terrorists.
We often describe these creatures and beings as monsters and villains. This judgement is rightfully so.
But as Christians, how are we supposed to respond stepping into the world of real monsters called reality?
Author of the critically-acclaimed fiction series Percy Jackson and the Olympians once wrote that,
“The real world is where the monsters are.”
We know this to be true. One of Oxford’s definition of monster is “an inhumanly cruel or wicked person.”
History is riddled with them and all I can think to lately is the recent slaughter of 13 soldiers in Afghanistan. They were murdered by monsters.
As for Christians, we view these crimes and we know that because of Adam and Eve’s original sin, that man’s character is naturally depraved.
Humanity is born sinful. Apart from Christ, no one is “good” and intentions are muddled (Psalm 51:1-3; Romans 3:10-18).
The world tries to deceive by preaching the humanistic lie that men and women are “inherently good”. The Bible teaches that humanity is “inherently sinful”.
Two Paths
If we choose to follow the truth. It takes us on a separate trek from the world. We walk side by side with those who remained on the pathway to destruction; meanwhile, pleading for them to join this new family.
A new family heading to abundant, eternal life.
The path to destruction is conducted by the Prince of Darkness, Satan. When something evil is carried out, the first thing that one may assume is that the transgressor is our enemy.
This may be true and all fault is on that person as an enemy to our flesh. But Christians let me ask you this.
If from the moment of our salvation, we have crucified the flesh with Christ, then what do these monsters truly have to hold against us (Galatians 5:24)?
Life in the kingdom and the family of God is found in the Spirit of Christ, not Earth where moths and rust destroy (Matthew 6:19-21).
Furthermore, because our flesh is not of priority, neither should our focus be on fleshly enemies. Rather the father of such evilness.
The War
In Ephesians 2:2, Paul teaches that these “monsters” are children of the much more devious being.
He states, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
Later in Ephesians 6:12, Paul elaborates more in saying,
“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.”
He goes on to say empower the Christian with the Spiritual Armor of God. In this armor, their is no weak spot or place to infiltrate. Satan and his subordinates will only receive gashes from the Sword of Truth, God’s word.
The longest wars on Earth are not the Hundreds Year War, the Vietnam War, or the War in Afghanistan. It is the spiritual war waged for the soul’s of each and every person on Earth.
The Answer
Little does the enemy know that the battle has already been won and death has been defeated.
The Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, has defeated Death. He has defeated the Devil (Hebrews 2:14).
Christ himself died but now is alive forevermore, holding the keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18).
How can fear tantalize us any longer?
If you do not have this assurance of a war already won. I want to offer you this piece of Scripture. We all are sinners who are in need of a Savior. No longer do you have live as a child of disobedience; rather, join the love of a newfound Heavenly Father.
Simply know,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 9-10).
God bless you friend and thank you for reading.