For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
We have this vivid and sobering reminder from Paul’s closing remarks to the Ephesian church that the gospel advances against a grim kingdom of death beyond what our eyes can see. We are called to stand against the devil’s own war plans (Ephesians 6:11). It requires defensive spiritual armor and skill with God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:13-17). It means we seriously implore the Almighty God of Heaven to help and protect us, keep us alert, and to embolden us with gospel proclamation (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Yesterday was a shocking display of the intensity of that spiritual battle as a bold Christian voice that actively interjected the gospel with clarity in the deepest and the darkest of our current cultural conflicts was cut down by the cosmic powers of this present darkness. Political motivations aside, the gospel is still very much the light, God’s truth still is a burning bright spotlight against the forces of evil, and if anything, the gospel declared and lived by that voice will only grow. A clear contrast between darkness and light can be seen.
The question for us becomes this: Will we don the armor of God, stand firm, boldly love others by declaring through gospel conversations the liberating truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and pray like the battle-commanded soldiers we are called to be?
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