Protecting Our Most Precious Possession

This is a first for me. I have copied and pasted on my blog things I have run across that I thought was worth sharing. This is something I wrote about 2 years ago, that was on a blog I started and only posted to once. Not that it is fabulous writing, but something I needed reminded of, and we all do:

I just finished reading my first Tom Clancy book, Patriot Games. A good friend of mine decided I needed to branch out with my reading, and loaned me his copy.

The book has made my mind think, which can be a good thing. The main characters went over and above the norm in trying to protect their loved ones, and also the Royal Prince and his wife. Man, they had an all-out war going with casualties right and left trying to protect them.

Although the book is fictional, we would all react the same way if our family were threatened. I am single, and live alone, but I would die to protect members of my family, especially my nieces and nephews. So why on earth have I surrendered a more precious thing to the greatest enemy ever, over and over again? As precious as "my kids" are, my soul is far more precious in light of eternity. Yet, when the devil comes with temptations that will ultimately hurt me, I have opened wide the door, and not even tried to fight him off.

So what is with that? Sometimes I think we don't realize what a spiritual battle we are in. I know there is a lot of disagreement over eternal security and the like, and I am not going to say anything to start a debate, but I will say this: I would not want to be committing an act of sin when I die, or when Jesus splits the Eastern skies and comes back for the faithful. Whatever a person believes about eternal security, it isn't safe to wager one's soul on it, and that is besides the point of living a life pleasing to God.

Anyway, whether or not we can lose our salvation, that aside, if Satan can get us to fall back into sinful behaviors, we become useless as Christians at least, and that alone makes him happy. I have people I pray daily for, and even at least one that I pray for several times a day. If I let sin have it's way in my life, I cannot pray for these people, and not that I think my prayers alone are that important, but who knows how important our prayers are? Just knowing there are people praying for me is a great encouragement to me. I think next to "I love you", "I'm praying for you" may be the most important thing you can tell someone.

We wonder why things go so well for awhile, and then BAM, seemingly out of the blue, temptation hits, and everything seems to go wrong. It is simple. Though it sounds dramatic, we are in warfare, and Satan isn't a nicely trained American soldier. He is a terrorist, like the ones in the book I just read. Terrorists strike when it is least expected, and are good at infiltrating even the safest locations. That is why it is so important to daily be in prayer and the Bible, and to stay accountable constantly.

I no longer want to swing open the door to Satan. He is the enemy of my soul, and no matter how attractive he makes temptation look, it is just a grenade, bomb, scud missile, UZI, or the like, disguised by pleasure. It sure isn't worth giving in. I want to fight, and stay strong.

Part of that staying strong, is taking my daily "meds". The book my friend and I are doing, Game Plan, by Joe Dallas, came up with the term. My daily meds are praying, reading my Bible, staying accountable, and reading my 31 reasons. They are reasons I want to stay clean, and not give into the "sin that so easily besets me".

This is a war, and I want to be found faithful, and not surrender any ground that I have gained, by God's grace. There will be periods when it seems the devil leaves us alone, and temptation is far away, but we can never relax our guard, but must be prepared for anything at any time.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Refrain
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Refrain
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Refrain
What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believed, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Refrain
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

Refrain
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Refrain