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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: I’m beginning to realize the Christian’s battle is not with other people but rather unseen powers. I’m asking God to give me more love for others because many people don’t fully understand that the real battle in life is in the unseen world. – U.W.

 

Dear U.W.: The world, the flesh, and the devil are our enemies. In times of war one can hardly expect the goodwill of the enemy’s forces. During World War II, the American journalist Cecil Brown wrote a cover story on the tragedy of the sinking of two British battleships. He said, “There is always the danger of underestimating the enemy to the point where you are overconfident. Figure him to be twice as good and twice as smart, then make preparations in advance!”

Though our weapons aren’t earthly, the enemy’s weapons are earthly, and we can expect Satan to use every tool at his command for our persecution and destruction. Life is a struggle – that is the nature of things. Even within our physical bodies, doctors tell us, a conflict for supremacy is going on. The bacteria in our bloodstream are waging a constant war against alien germs. The red corpuscles fight the white corpuscles constantly in an effort to maintain life within the body.

A battle is also raging in the spiritual realm. The Bible says, “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” (Ephesians 6:12, KJV). When we come to Christ, God calls us out of this world’s sin and confusion; not to share any longer in its sin and spiritual darkness, but to bear witness to the light of Christ.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)