We Cannot Control Our Enemy
During the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, one of the members moved “that the standing army be restricted to no more than 5000 men at any one time.”
George Washington, being the chairman, could not offer a motion, but he turned to another member and whispered [sarcastically], “Amend the motion to provide that no foreign enemy shall invade the United States at any time with more than 3000 troops."
As Christians, we find ourselves engaged in a great, cosmic battle for souls. We can know the strategy of the enemy. We can study his tactics. We can see what he does in the lives of others and we can see the path of destruction that is left in the lives of those who follow him. What we cannot do is control him.
But we can put on the whole armor of God so that we are prepared for the fight.
Tested By Fire
"Sprinklers, limestone plaster, frame repellant window gel, and a hand-poured concrete basement. This is what Chris Arai used to withstand the fires.
"Wildfires have burnt thousands of California homes to the ground in recent years.
"Engineer Chris Arai has spent more than 15 years fireproofing his Sonoma County home, outfitting it with a gas-powered sprinkler system, flame-repellant window gel, and a concrete basement he poured by hand.
"When the Kincade Fire ripped through Arai's rural community last year, the engineer's home was the only one that survived the blaze."
Chris went to great lengths to fire-proof his home. While many scrambled as the wildfires crept closer, since he was well prepared, his home was able to withstand the fire that destroyed his neighbor's home.
How will the life you've built stand up to the fire that's coming when God tests the quality of what you've done?
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work" (1 Corinthians 3:11-13, NIV).
The Well Prepared Man
I've just finished two long days of putting up storm shutters, stocking up on supplies, and dragging lawn furniture into my house, all in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew. But while I was scrambling, there was one man on our block who had time to chat with the neighbors, and even offer help to several families that found themselves rushing to finish before the Category 4 Storm arrived.
The reason this man wasn't harried like the rest of us was because he was well prepared. His supplies were purchased early, he installed accordion shutters years ago to avoid the time consuming process of putting up the old-fashioned drill-in kind, he filled his cars and generator with gasoline long before the lines formed, and was now enjoying the fruits of his labors (and so were his neighbors!).
The well prepared person isn't the one who prepares just enough to finish at the last minute, but the person who prepares well enough in advance to be able to help others.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-8).
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35).