"On Guard!"

Do you recall the old ‘Three Musketeer’ movies?  When I was a boy, I loved to watch them. Of course, every boy who has ever watched one of those movies has then had to have his own share of sword fights.  We didn’t have the fancy store bought swords, so I recall using whatever was available as a sword. A stick would work in a pinch, but as I recall my favorite was an old curtain rod that mom had replaced with a new one, or at least that’s the way I remember acquiring it. ;-)

The Musketeers had muskets too. It was where they got their name. A musket was a long barreled, black powder, handgun; but it was the sword that thrilled me.  Handguns were commonly in use in the westerns and the police shows of the day, but only the Musketeers, Zorro, or the occasional Pirate had a sword.

Now, all these years later, I carry a sword with me everywhere I go.  I’m not the most talented at wielding it, but the sword that I carry is very powerful and makes up for my inadequacy.  Certainly by now, you know that I’m referring to the Word of God.  It is called the “Sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17. It is said to be “sharper than ANY two edged sword” in Hebrews 4:12. I’m all grown up, and have been for a long time, but I still think the Sword is one of the coolest weapons of all time.

We often find ourselves in spiritual warfare.  Like the old movies, it seems that the good guys don’t have to go looking for trouble because trouble comes looking for you.  But this is reality…  This is life, and sometimes it isn’t quite so fun as it was when I was a kid.  The sword fights really matter.  The prize isn’t fantasy, it’s real.  The damsel in distress might be a daughter, or a niece, or a family friend and the peril we are trying to rescue them from is not fiction.  It is a real and present danger and in some instances it is eternity that hangs in the balance.

In the old movies, just before a sword fight, one of the opponents would say, “On guard!”  In life, it isn’t always that way.  The Devil is sneaky, he doesn’t tell you he’s about to attack.  So just stay ready.  I MUST be on guard!  I must be vigilant! I must be alert, and not only for my own wellbeing, but for the people who need the help, or strength, that I might be able to provide.  I must guard against sin in my own life.  I have to guard against offense from a brother; just let it go.  I need to guard against complacency.  I need to watch out for the wide range of attacks of the enemy.  But how can I help someone else?  I’m just a man.  I’m just an overgrown boy who was fascinated by swords, Musketeers, and sword fighting.

I can help others the same way YOU can: By being skilled with the Sword that I have been given and staying on guard.  The Word will do the work. Remember, I told you this Sword is very powerful. I need to know it. I need to declare it.  I need to believe it. Then, I need to stand in agreement with it and watch it work.  The enemy doesn’t have a Sword like this.  This Sword is backed by the power of the Almighty God. "On guard!"

A Word for 2013

As I write this, it is still mid-December. But with great anticipation I am looking forward to this New Year that quickly is approaching. I am expectant of great things for 2013.

I have looked at what the number thirteen (13) ‘seems to signify’ in the Bible.  Whether you buy into biblical numerology or not, it is quite obvious that there are Biblical patterns in the Word of God, as related to numbers. For example, the number seven (7) is often associated with God or spiritual perfection, the number forty (40) is used repeatedly in relation to trials or tests (Israel’s 40 years in the dessert, Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness, etc.)   So, just out of curiosity, I have looked at the number thirteen and found that it often seems to point to ‘rebellion’.  Will the year 2013 have any of the characteristics of the patterns found in the Bible for the number thirteen?  I honestly don’t know.

What I do know is that this generation is a very rebellious generation.  I do know that even in 2012 it seemed that the spirit of rebellion became much more prevalent in our nation. Now before I have you scared or depressed let me shift gears.  The numbers 10 and 3 are both known as signifying Divine perfection, fullness.  Perhaps the connecting of the two would reflect that? Who knows!

I'll stop short of making predictions for the coming year, and I'll simply tell you what is more important than figuring out the future.  Here it is: This is no time to let down on your faith!  This is the time to go after God with your whole heart!

The Word tells us that “perilous times will come”.  I believe we all know that they are here.  The Word tells us that there will be “a great falling away”.  I think we are witnessing it. The Word tells us that “evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse”. So true!

Yet while the world seemingly deteriorates all around us, while chaos becomes the norm, while rebellion is the expected lifestyle of our day, there is still going forth HIS message of HOPE.  We carry the Good News that a desperate word is so needing to hear! And for us, He is with us and has promised not to forsake us!

There is truth in the saying, “The light shines brightest, when things are the darkest.” So if things do continue to grow darker in our day, it only makes our living for Christ all the more precious in the world.

Don’t fear the coming days, the Lord has gone into them before us. Let us go into the days ahead with great expectations, knowing that great opportunities are being presented to us to reflect the brilliancy of Christ! And let us go into them in full pursuit of God and His righteousness. His promise is that He will supply all we need, if we will do this: seek Him first.

What does 2013 hold? Only God really knows, but whether it is darker yet than what we have experienced or whether we get a short reprieve, the end of days is upon us.  NOW is the time to give ALL to God, and today is the day of SALVATION!

2013 doesn't scare me.  The numerical pattern of 13 can’t make me fear. Here's a word for 2013, "My God is still in perfect control, He is still lighting the way with His Word, and He will empower us who are in Christ to light the way for the world in the days ahead!"