Warfare is ongoing

The Bible makes it clear that we are in spiritual warfare. One of the most devastating testaments to this axiom was demonstrated to me by my brother. I saw him reach rock bottom and in desperation call me for advice. He was tortured as he told me the miserable state his life was in and he just could not understand how I could have such a good life. We were at diametrically opposite points in our lives; I was drug and alcohol free and exceedingly successful in my marriage and in raising my children. My career was skyrocketing and I was happy on all fronts. He on the other hand had been married and divorced multiple times and his current wife had just tried to commit suicide. He saved her life and when he visited her in the hospital, she told him that when she got out of the hospital that she was going to leave him. His kids were a mess, his career was over, he was drinking and drugging, and his life was miserable.

He sobbed into the phone that we had come out of the same womb, had similar upbringings, intellects, and even looked similar; why did we turn out so differently? I told him that the only difference between us was that I had God in my life and he did not. I told him that he had tried every fleshly thing on his own just as I had done, and it was killing him just like it was killing me when I tried it. I told him that he had nothing more to lose and everything to gain, and I asked him to just give God a chance. At that critical time I was able to convince him to come to Atlanta. I told him to go to the airport and an airline ticket would be waiting for him and that I would pick him up.

He came and we met with my pastor and together we explained to him how he could enjoy the same peace and joy that we had simply by turning his life over to God. I was witness to him getting down on his knees and accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. We went to Borders and I bought him a Bible and he stayed with me for about two weeks. We had bible study and prayer together and many long talks. He returned to New Orleans and he and his wife were reunited. Later he, his wife, and their young son joined a local Baptist church and were all baptized together and they pledged their lives to God.

In a miraculous way his life immediately changed for the better. It truly was a testament to God’s miraculous healing power. He was happy for the first time that he could remember. He experienced joy and peace in his life and his marriage and excitedly called me and was beaming about it. Weeks went by and then months and ever so slowly he and his small family began to drift apart from God. I called often and urged my brother to be sure and go to church and to study his Bible daily; it was to no avail. He told me that he knew he needed to do all of those things, but he did not do them. I told him that he should be careful because if he turned his back on God, God just might turn His back on him. That was the last time he took one of my calls. I would call, but he would not pick up the phone and his answering machine would answer and tell me to leave a message. I left several to no avail.

One cold, blustery night I was in an airport in Chicago and I got a call from my wife and she wept into the phone and told me that my brother whom I loved with all of my heart had committed suicide by taking a gun and shooting himself in the temple with a 9MM handgun. He lost his last spiritual battle to satan that night.

Some folks think that walking down an aisle and accepting the Lord as your Savior means the battle is over. Take it from me that nothing could be further from the truth. I sincerely believe that every spiritual battle won by a believer enrages satan who is a powerful foe and is described in the Bible as being similar to a roaring lion stalking about looking for someone to devour. The Bible states that without God we are no match for him; he was created with awesome power that we cannot even envision. He is however no match for almighty God and we are assured that God will protect us. In order to obtain God’s protection and win the war, we must stay close to God, read our Bibles, gather with other believers in church and Sunday school, have faith, and pray often. Don’t backslide and end up going it alone; take a lesson from my brother

1 Tim. 1:18
You may wage the
good warfare,
having faith, and a good conscience,
which some have rejected
concerning the faith have
suffered shipwreck.