Skip to main content

Preparation

FAITHFUL TO THE END

 Part 2 

 By Caleb Tam













Last time I talked about how we know we are living in the last days and that probation will close very soon for us, who know the truth.  The question dealt with was, "Where are we going?"  Today, we will look at how to stand in the last days.  Let's take a look at some great advise straight from God's word.  Ephesians 6 compares the character traits necessary for the Christian walk to the armor of a soldier.  It tells us how to "stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  These days are evil and I pray that it is our desire to remain standing spiritually though the whole world is standing against us.
The first element necessary is the belt of truth.  We need to be unflinchingly true to our consciences and to God no matter the consequences, and remain trustworthy as the "needle to the pole" if we want to win the most crucial battle ever waged.  Second, we need to have on the breastplate of righteousness.  We must be "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."  Not that we will never make mistakes, but we must let the perfection and holiness of Christ shine through us imparting the goodness of God to those around us.  
The next piece of the Christian armor is to have our feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."  If we will stand through fiery furnaces, as did the Hebrew boys, we must prepare now by putting on the spiritual armor.  A soldier doesn't wait until the heat of the battle to put his armor on if he values his life.  The same goes for us.  We must always be prepared.  Our feet are to be shod with peace.  It is absolutely necessary for us to be at peace with everyone we come in contact with, for those around us are watching us.  We want to lead people upwards to Christ, not draw them away from Him by our actions, for we are His witnesses.  

Next, we must take the shield of faith to block the temptations that Satan sends our way.  Claiming God's promises, while believing that He will do as He says, is the key to success.  For example, we must submit to God, resist the devil, believing that God will drive him away, and the foe will flee!  

The helmet of salvation.  We must keep our minds focused on heaven, and not for a moment take off our helmets, which protect our minds, unless we want to be spiritually killed.  The last and most important piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  A soldier is useless and defenceless without his sword.  The same goes for us.  In the last days, many of us will be imprisoned and tried for our faith, and our spiritual swords will be removed from us.  But if we memorize our swords, we will never have to part from them or be defenceless.  Jesus rebuked the devil with a simple "It is written."  

Let's ensure today that we are prepared for the last great test by having our armor on all the time, so that when the time comes that we will be singled out, we can still win spiritually.  And there is nothing to fear, for all the mighty hosts of heaven are on our side!  


Comments

Post a Comment

Please keep your comments/questions uplifting, without the use of any slang or swear words.

Popular posts from this blog

Who Holds the Reins?

A horse gallops wildly through the deep dark woods. On its back rides a terrified girl, her small, weak hands clinging to the reins draped about her horses neck. Her dress is torn and dirty and her unraveled braids fly out behind her in a tangled and wind tossed mess. The trail, full of potholes, rocks and fallen logs, snakes its way through an ominously dark and dreary forest. Dark, sinister trees threaten to grab her and pull her off of her horse. At every bump in the trail, the girl bounces, nearly losing her grip. Her knuckles whiten as she tightens her grip on the reins. She looks down at the blur of rocks and logs racing beneath her and imagines with terror what would happen if she lost her grip. Behind her sits a Man, His face a picture of tender kindness and pity. He longs to help the girl who clings so desperately to the horses reins. The girl’s eyes, full of fear and blinded by tears, look imploringly at the One riding behind her. “Little girl,” He says, His eyes s...
Post a Comment
Read more

On Thin Ice

It was a beautiful spring day. The sun shone brightly, making paths of light through the thick branches of tall pine trees. Little birds flitted through the branches and chirped merry songs.     Nearby, a boy stepped onto some melting ice. He nervously moved his feet, noticing little pools of water forming at every step. His eyes flashed and his mouth curved into a confident grin as he neared the center of the ice. He turned around and looked back at his friends who were watching him.    “Look at me!” He yelled and jumped on the ice. His friends gasped and told him to stop jumping.    “You might fall through!” they cried. But he only shrugged it off and laughed and began to jump some more, his feet pounded into the weakening ice. He didn’t notice the crack that had started to form and that was gradually getting larger with every jump. Then suddenly, without warning, he heard the ice splinter and felt freezing cold water begin engulf him. His friend...
Post a Comment
Read more

Transformation

     A man walks down a beach, searching. His feet sink into the sand and waves lap at them with every step. He stops and stoops down to pick up a stone. A smile plays on the corners of his lips as he holds it in his hand. To the ordinary person, it’s a rough and beach-worn stone; chipped and full of imperfections. But as this man gazes at the stone, he sees past those chips and scratches, past its dull appearance, and sees in it a beautiful gem, full of possibilities      He slips the stone in his pocket, and takes it home to polish it. First he puts it in a tumbler with a bunch of other stones. As it is tumbles, its many imperfections are chipped away. When the man finally takes it out of the tumbler, he holds in his hand a beautiful gem, no longer the dull stone it once was. Then he carefully covers the whole stone with a layer of polish. Once it is dry, the man picks up the stone and rubs his finger along its smooth, glossy surface. A smile of satisfa...
Post a Comment
Read more