“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan”.
C.S. Lewis
It’s ugly, constant, relentless, stressful; the raging battle for our souls. This is the most stressful time in earth’s history. Peace of mind is elusive and seemingly unattainable. Even the elements are in constant upheaval. No stone is left unturned, there are no exemptions in this battle called the Great Controversy. The entire universe is under attack. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. Joshua 24:15
Those words were spoken to the Israelites at a significant time in history, Joshua recognised it was high time for God’s people to take a stand. We are at the same crossroad today. It is decision time; we must be resolute.
The Great Controversy
The Great Controversy is vicious attack on God’s character. Our relationship with Him doesn’t provide an exemption clause from demonic attack. In fact, it seems to draw the attention of the evil one. Those who already belong to him need not be alarmed (he doesn’t need to spend time on them). It’s those who side with God and the indecisive ones that are of interest to Satan. Sometimes he launches verbal assaults, when they fail to faze us, he upgrades it to a physical attack. We may be injured or hurt in the process but giving in or giving up, is not an option. This raging battle is of eternal significance.
The Apostle Peter urged us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
The Great Controversy is relentless. Satan charges with force and fury and has no care for our well-being. He seeks to possess and destroy us. Stand ready to fight with equal intensity. We must be fully “Scriptured”, guarded by the Holy Spirit, readying ourselves for the day that our reputation, our character, and identity come under siege.
The whole armour of God is our only line of defence.
We are not sent to the frontline without our PPE, in Ephesian 6: 11, 12 the Apostle Paul gives the battle plan, “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.”
This great cosmic conflict is about authority: God or Satan. An age-old spiritual warfare between good and evil. We are confronted by two opposing forces which are always at odds: Satan and his host of rebellious forces contesting God’s authority. Both cannot harmoniously coexist. It is either one or the other. As C.S Lewis warned, “All the time the joke is that the word “mine” in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about anything. In the long run either [Satan] or God will say “mine” of each thing that exists, and specially of each man.” God does not force anyone to worship him, we get to decide to whom we belong.
Where does your allegiance lie?
Father God, you have not left us to fight on our own. Help us to recognise your presence and to know that we are never alone when we stand with you.
