The world we are living in is nuts, and only getting more nuts. Most people, however intelligent, are seeking rational explanations. But the truth is, there aren’t any. I genuinely think most of us in the West are so blind to spiritual realities that we have an awful lot to learn from other worldviews.
I was cleaning up my computer and came across this talk given in 2017. I’d never posted it. But I found that all the more after a short time of living back in the West I needed to hear it. I think it’ll do you some good as well.
Do take a listen.
“We are at war, and the bloody battle is over our hearts. I am astounded how few Christians see this, how little they protect their hearts. We act as though we live in a sleepy little town during peacetime. We don’t. We live in the spiritual equivalent of Bosnia or Beirut. Act like it. Watch over your heart. Don’t let just anything in; don’t let it go just anywhere. What’s this going to do to my heart? is a question that I ask in every situation. “ (John Eldredge)
John Piper highlights the critical issue as follows: “Probably the number one reason why prayer malfunctions in the hands of believers is that we try to turn a wartime walkie-talkie into a domestic intercom. Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for… But what have millions of Christians done? We have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance. No strategic planning. Just easy peace and prosperity. And what did we do with the walkie-talkie? We tried to rig it up as an intercom in our houses – not to call in fire power for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask for more comforts in the den…
…Most people show by their priorities and casual approaches to spiritual things that they believe we’re in peace, not in wartime… In wartime we’re on the alert. We’re armed. We’re vigilant. In wartime we spend money differently, because there are more strategic ways to maximise our resources. The war effort touches everybody. We all cut back. The luxury liner becomes a troop carrier… Who considers that the casualties of this war don’t merely lose an arm or an eye or an earthly life, but lose everything, even their own soul, and enter a hell of everlasting torment?”
Thank you for this brother!
I’ve had several Christian friends tell me recently that “God had blessed them with…” a new car in two cases and a pretty extravagant vacation in the other. It was interesting that all chose to use the phrase “God blessed me with…” in order to describe the purchase.
I wonder if we looked at our resources (time, money, talents, etc.), differently whether we would make different choices? Would it be more accurate to say “God entrusted me with $30,000 to meet my needs and serve and build His kingdom and I chose to spend it on…”?
If we really saw the reality of the spiritual war that’s raging and looked at our resources as given to us by God to support the war effort, I’m guessing we would be less inclined to buy a new $30,000 car and more inclined to buy a dependable used car (I’ve never had an issue with any of my used Toyotas) for $10, 000 and donate the remaining $20,000 to support missions or other ministry.
The same goes for time. If we said “God entrusted me with two hours of relatively free time this evening…”, would we still choose to sit in front of the TV, or would we be more likely to spend the time in prayer?
In a very real sense, nothing we have is ours…not money, time, or anything else. All of it has been entrusted to us by God for His purposes. We may not all be on the front lines, but we should all be fully engaged and supporting the war effort with what God has entrusted us with!
Until a critical mass of Christians take their God-given roles in this battle seriously, I fear we won’t see a significant revival anytime soon.
Thank you so much for your perspective. What an incredibly helpful and healthy way to think of the resources we have been given.
I have thought this for some time now, that mainstream Christianity is very much in the mindset of adopting the peaceful life. We are and always will be at war until He returns. I do my best to question my own heart motives at times, asking Jesus to help me see through any deceptions, many which have been placated by fellow believers in prayers for peace and prosperity, which I feel are not so much towards the peace and prosperity of others but more towards there own comfort.