The Struggle

December 15, 2006

The Struggle

            As Christians our lives are difficult as we struggle to be the kind of people God wants us to be. This world is full of things that are meant to derail us. Let me tell you a story that might help you in the day to day fight to be a good Christian.

            Back during the Revolutionary war when a brand new country struggled for existence, for the right to live under the principles we all hold dear now, George Washington was in charge of making it happen. The British had decided that they didn’t agree with the creation of this new nation nor would they allow this to happen. America’s military was made up of farmers and everyday citizens while the British army was made up of career military men that had proven themselves time and again on the battlefield.

            As the battle raged George Washington faced many setbacks and defeats as you can imagine with men who were used to the simple farm life rather than the British Redcoats. Vastly outmanned, outgunned and with minimal resources he struggled to keep this new country alive. Through the harsh winter, his men starving, he did all that he could to win the fight.

Then one day a revelation. He discovered that he didn’t have to win but he couldn’t lose. What does this mean? It means that he was outgunned like we are today as Christians. The devil has vast weaponry and it is all pointed at you much like it was for Washington. It means that we are outmanned. Simply turn on the TV and what do you see? Drive down the road and what do you see on billboards? Turn on the radio and what do you hear? We are surrounded by the “Redcoats”.

You see George Washington discovered that the British HAD to win to win. If George Washington was able to hold them off then he didn’t lose. As long as he struggled the British couldn’t declare victory.

As Christians, we can look at our struggle in the same way. The devil has to break you to win. As long as you struggle, he can’t win. God knows we are not perfect and He knows that the devil will get us here and there but while we struggle to be Christians the devil CANNOT win. We hold him off. In the end, victory is ours in the name of Jesus.

So you see the victory is in the struggle. It is the struggle that defines us and refines us into the person that God wants us to be. There has only been One who was perfect. He has already won the victory over sin for us on the cross. It is our job to struggle until that wonderful day that He pronounces us victorious.

Now another thought for you. What would have happened if George Washington would have given up the struggle? Where would the world be today without the U.S.A.? Who would have stood up and defeated Hitler? Who would have brought democracy to the world? Do you grow tired of the struggle? Do you ever have the thought that maybe you should quit struggling and things would be easier on you? That is a thought straight from the deceiver and he is tempting you. Do not be fooled. He won’t make it easier on you. Things won’t just all of the sudden be better. He doesn’t work that way. He doesn’t care about you. He WANTS you to suffer. He will tempt you away with thoughts of ease but you will only find sorrow. He wants to pull you from God and then make you suffer and in turn have God weep for your lost soul. You will struggle in this life regardless but what you struggle for will determine your eternity.

We all get caught up in this life. We begin to think that the day to day things in our life are so important and forget God who is everything. We forget all the blessings we have received from Him. We only see someone else who has more than us and then we struggle to get what they have. This cycle repeats until our struggle for God has long since been lost and forgotten. My pastor has a saying that I love “If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved.” God hasn’t left you. He hasn’t forsaken you. He is always there with His arms open to hold you and love you. How many times have you left him? How many times has he been buried behind all the other “important things” in your life and put off until a more convenient time? Be careful because we are not promised a tomorrow. How can we do this to Him? He created us. He gave us life. He sent His Son to die for our sins. If I gave you a thousand dollars, you would want to do all kinds of good things for me. How good of guy would I be if I gave you a million? How many things could you do with that? What if I came to you and said ‘I am going to send my son and with his horrible death hanging from a cross, you will be able to live forever. You will never know pain again. You will never know thirst again. You will live forever in paradise’? What would you say? How would you feel inside? How do you feel now knowing that the Son of God, who could have commanded the hosts of angels to get Him off the cross and could have forsaken you, died for you? Can you imagine the pain He went through? Can you imagine how much the Father in Heaven loves you to let this happen? He hung there and suffered and struggled until it was finished. Does your struggle seem so bad now? What in your life compares with this?

Most of my life has been spent in darkness. There have been smiles on the outside that try at best to mask the emptiness inside. Jesus fills my heart now but I struggle each and every day. I fall almost daily but everyday my Father is there to lift me up once again. He never leaves. He never forgets. He never has better things to do. Through Him I know love unending. Through Him I will know life unending where I will worship Him, walk with Him and be wrapped in His love.

Jesus is the savior of the world. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Our God is victorious and through Him so are we. There are so many people who are still in the darkness and God calls us to find them. We are not here just to worry about ourselves but to be a light to those in the darkness. How do we do this? Through our own struggles, God shines through us. Those in the darkness don’t see us; they see God through our actions. We are the body of Christ.

As you struggle through life, living for God, remember he is with you. The church is where you can find refuge and a recharge. Like a cell phone, we go into the world with a full battery but the world sends a million things your way and wears you down, if you don’t recharge, you’ll die. The church serves this purpose for Christians. This is where we get our spiritual recharge from the Holy Spirit and from fellowship with other Christians. Faith, church and fellowship with other Christians is a recipe for spiritual success.