Decisive Battles

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel" (Joshua 10:14).

Upon Gibeon's battlefield, the conquest of Canaan turned. There were other conflicts, before and after, but this one was pivotal.

We all have times like that. Every human life has its sharp and severe struggles that cast the future of that life.

What allurements could be stronger than those Potiphar's wanton wife brought to the youthful Joseph? That was the decisive battle of his life. Defeat would have assured swift destruction. He said, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" He won!

The world offers dangerous enemies. By "world" we refer to the selfish spirit and nature of earthlings that care nothing for God or eternity. It is the arrogance that recognizes no Bible but the checkbook, no heaven but physical excess, and no law but one of personal design. These capable opponents will not stop until the end.

What shall we do? Paul said it this way:

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Eph. 6:11­13).

Simple rules for conflict are: 1) Never change your relation with the truth though the enemy appears powerful. 2) Never allow a doubtful or questionable principal to go without proof. 3) Never abandon the high ground of biblical truth for the lowlands of expediency. 4) Get all moral armor from the right source. 5) Whether wounded by foes or deserted by friends, never surrender.

The one battle that precedes all others is the battle of faith. This is the most momentous of all struggles. Evangelistic faith, on the one hand, and unbelief on the other. By "unbelief" we refer to a heart's rejection of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Here lies the core of all of life's battles. The issue, simply stated, is: Shall Christ have possession of my soul? That is the conflict.

My friend, make Christ the Lord of your salvation. You can then echo the words at the Gibeon victory "There was no day like that before it or after it."

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust cloth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust cloth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore shine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if shine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6: 19­24).

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica (2 Tim. 4:10).

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, end the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:15­17).

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of Got is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Cor 1:20­25).