Imagine a soldier, fully equipped by his Commanding Officer with all the armor and weapons he needs.  The battle is raging all around, but where the soldier has been placed is relatively calm.  The physical hardships of the war are some distance away and though he can hear the sounds of battle, it does not seem to directly affect him.  He is positioned in a stronghold of sorts.

 His Commanding Officer has ordered him to assist his fellow soldiers, to prepare to take part in the battle, and to stand ready.  But as the days and nights pass, he gets weary of standing.  He and his fellow soldiers occasionally send assistance to those in the heat of the battle, but become far more interested in making their own assignments comfortable. 

 The enemy is aware of the soldiers’ growing complacency.  Rather than a direct attack, the enemy stealthily infiltrates the stronghold.  As the soldiers become less and less vigilant, the enemy quietly undermines and damages their defenses. 

 The enemy’s agents encourage the soldiers to take off their “heavy” and “unnecessary” armor, and to lay aside their weapons.  The enemy whispers, “There’s no reason to practice using your weapons when you are living in such a safe place.  Other things are more important and more fun.“

 The soldiers become more and more complacent and lazy.   They no longer take their duty seriously.  They relax, eat, drink, and look for ways to be even more comfortable.  Nothing dangerous or threatening seems to be happening here.  It seems obvious the enemy will not attack this stronghold; because it is so strong.  The soldiers feel safe.  Distracted by the very comfort and safety the Commanding Officer has provided for them, they ignore the Commander's warnings and instructions and turn a blind eye to the danger growing around them.

 Like waking from a dream, the soldiers suddenly realize the enemy is already among them, and they are totally unprepared.  They look for their scattered pieces of armor and find them rusty or lost.  Their weapons also are rusty, broken or missing.  Even those who find their weapons soon realize they are so out of practice, they hardly know how to use them.

 The enemy laughs.  Now the battle is raging within what was their “safe” stronghold.  The enemy, preparing for this attack all along, is ready and rages against the soldiers who find themselves scrambling and vulnerable.

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This is America.

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While never perfect, it was once a beacon of Christian hope to the world.  Now it is the land of the complacent, comfortable Christian.  We have focused on God’s blessings rather than God’s instructions.  The enemy has infiltrated the country and the church, and it is the fault of Christians.  We have not followed the orders of our Commanding Officer to be vigilant, ready and to stand against the enemy.

 

 Can we still win this battle?  Yes, but it will not be easy.  We need to call on the Lord.  We need to beg His forgiveness for not following His orders and ask Him to help us.  We must repent of our idolatry and complacency.  We need to put on the armor He has provided for us.   We need to pick up our weapons, clean and sharpen them, and learn to use them.  We need to do all this as quickly as possible which means we must direct all our energy and effort to this goal.  We cannot wait until we are “ready” for the battle, because it is already upon us.  We must prepare while fighting the enemy the best we can.  We must discipline ourselves to be vigilant and ready. 

 

This is a spiritual battle.

 

Will we repent and obey?  Or will we and our country suffer the consequences of our idolatry and disobedience?  Make no mistake, if God is not first in our lives, then we are worshiping false gods, and there will be consequences. 

 

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.              Philippians 1:21

 

Christ died to save us from the consequences of sin.  Living for Him is not the most important goal of our life, it is the only important goal.