Summer is often a time for rest and disengagement from the demands of school and work. It is also a good time to be reminded not to fall asleep in our walk with Christ.  The words of A.W. Tozer of a previous generation come to mind as he warned that “the world is not a playground, but a battleground.”Tozer was speaking in spiritual terms and was describing the makeup of this world in which we live.

Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura write with urgency on the present spiritual conflict in their work, Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective:

“If we were on a battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan and forgot we were in war, we would be dead in no time. Awareness and vigilance are critical for survival. It is sad that we, as followers of Jesus, so easily forget that we are in a war—an invisible war, but a real one nonetheless.”

This kind of language is not a call for paranoia, but a renewed emphasis on the New Testament warning  to remain alert to spiritual danger.  The Apostle Paul perhaps more than any biblical writer speaks to this need in the Christian life.

As he closed the book of Ephesians, Paul provided a closing exhortation “to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might,”and then he commanded believers “to put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.” (6:10,11) We ignore this warning to our peril. (more…)