The Victory

             The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” (Numbers 11:23)

           Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)

          Recruits in the military have two types of power. They have the power that is developed in them, including physical strength, emotional strength, strength of skills developed, strength of routines and habits learned. They also have the power of the US military and (at least in theory) of the US government. The same is true of the Christian. We have the strength God develops in us, the power of the Church, and the power of God.

          But just as there are corrupt soldiers who use the power available to them for wrong ends or in wrong ways, so we as Christians may (and do) use the power available to us in wrong ways and for wrong ends. There are also soldiers who believe that they have been abandoned. They either do not know how to call on the military or the government for help, or they believe that calling won’t change anything. I tend to be in this latter group. According to the author of The Christian in Complete Armour, there are two keys to being strong in the Lord and in His mighty power and they are both acts of faith – of knowing and trusting.

          The first is that one must believe that God is almighty. If He has no power, there’s no use seeking it. The second is that God will share His power, will make it available to you and to me. This is where I run into trouble. I know that He can do anything that is within His character. That is what it means to be God. But I am not as rock solid on His willingness to do anything I ask.

          Part of the reason for this “failure” on His part is that I ask for things that are not within His character to do. I may also ask for things that He is too wise to do. I may ask for things that are contrary to His plans. In the passage in Ephesians, we are told to be strong specifically with regard to standing against evil, not for glorifying ourselves or even for glorifying God (though it does so.) We’re given instructions for our spiritual benefit, not our material benefit.

          And we are given reasons to trust God’s power in these areas: His past record, our present dilemmas, and His eternal desire. He wants us to seek His power. Of the first, this is why it is important for us to not only read Scripture (and Scripture as of first importance) but also to read individual histories of Christians. We are woefully under-educated about God’s interaction in the world. As far as our present dilemma goes, when else are we to ask God’s help? When we don’t need it?  Finally, how would you like it if your friend or your child refused to ask you for help – indeed if they went to everyone else but you for aid?

          So here’s the question of the day. What if victory is achieved because we have beaten back the enemy, but because we have turned to God? What if that turning to God doesn’t provide the victory, but is the victory?