Though we cannot physically perceive it, throughout our entire Christian lives we are constantly engaged in a battle against an invisible enemy; an enemy that does not relent, or give any consideration to others, and whose single aim is to inflict upon us all kinds of suffering.
We cannot physically perceive this battle because it is taking place in the heavenly, unseen realm; "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6 verse 15)
The natural question that follows would be 'How do you overcome an enemy that you cannot see?' But we should not worry about this, because it is not with our own strength that we are able to stand. Elisha said to his servant: "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. ...Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6 verses 16-17)
The way we can battle against these forces is to put our hope in God, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6 verse 10-11)
We live in a world where people have no hope. No hope in Jesus and no hope even in their day to day lives. How then are people meant to stand against the devil and all his schemes that inflict suffering?
And we must be careful as to not convince ourselves that this is the way it was meant to be. There was no suffering before sin crept into the world, and we know that sin comes from the evil one, the devil.
The lesson of all this is that Jesus is our hope and salvation, and the solution to all our troubles lies in Him. And it is our job to pass this knowledge onto others who are not as aware of these things. Jesus asked Simon Peter if he truly loved him, then told him "Feed my lambs," "Take care of my sheep," and "Feed my sheep." (John 2 verse 15-17)
It is our job given by Jesus to teach that we are able to have such hope on all things to people so that they may also have this joy: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last." (John 15 verse 16)
And by doing this we can have peace in our day to day lives as well as also having joy in the reward in heaven that awaits us.
Tim Robertson is from Sydney and is studying engineering at UNSW
Tim Robertson's previous articles may be found at www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-robertson.html