total war



How quickly we forget.  September 11, 2001.  America came under "attack" by "terrorists" ~ which was promptly used as a pretext not only for greatly expanded military intervention in the Middle East, by the United States.  But that "attack" was also used to justify the institution of a host of new laws and newly created federal agencies with far-reaching powers ~ all of which are still in place nearly two decades later.

Though still considered controversial by many; yet, a very large number of intelligent and very capable people are convinced ~ based on a massive body of evidence, that the events of "9-11" involved an unprecedented level of deception (to say the least) foisted upon the American people.  That deception purposively involved the real deaths of nearly 3,000 people.  Some group of individuals, somewhere, were perfectly willing to commit mass murder in order to pull off their elaborate deception.  We should understand (better than we evidently do) what kind of world we are living in today.

Like most everyone else, I'm still trying to get to the bottom of . . . let us call it: the Coronavirus "crisis"; for, that is precisely what it is purposed to become.  There are many things about this crisis that don't add up.  Take for example, the following scenario, concerning which I am well familiar:

Until just over a week ago, it was life as usual in Ohio.  There was no widespread panic.  No schools or businesses were closed.  No one feared to go out in public.  But all of that suddenly began to change when, about one week ago, it was reported that there were then 3 'confirmed' cases of Coronavirus in Ohio.  Three or four days later, it was then reported that there were actually "at least 100,000" cases of Coronavirus in Ohio.  The very next day, all public schools throughout the state were closed ~ indefinitely.  One day after that, all restaurants and bars in Ohio were required to shut down.  Today, all public gatherings (excepting religious) of more than 10 persons is prohibited!!  And major developments are now breaking almost hourly....

Meanwhile (a couple of days ago), it was quietly announced that the earlier report related to 100,000 cases in Ohio was now being "walked back".  Never mind that; the desired effect was achieved.  Panic quickly ensued.  A world-class crisis was produced literally overnight.  Store shelves are completely emptied of most staple goods.  And many Ohioans doubtless are preparing themselves to withstand a long siege.

How does any of that make sense?  Clearly, it doesn't.  The days in which we now live are preeminently characterized by falsehoods and lawlessness; just as the Bible foretold it would be the case in the last days.  Deception is the order of the day.  So, what are we ~ the Body of Christ ~ supposed to do?  Are we left to speculate and hypothesize about what's going on, in the same manner as do those who know nothing of the Spirit of God?  Do we have nothing better than inferences and guesses about what is happening around us in the world?  Or having done our best to rationally decipher the complexities of our rapidly changing and always deceitful world; are we then powerless as are the godless to bring about any substantive deliverance by the power of God?  Oh! God help us!

We Christians sometimes say we are involved in a war against the "principalities and powers of darkness" in this present world.  But are we, really?  I believe we are not as committed to win that war as we may suppose we are.  Doubtless most Christians would agree that living in this fallen world is a continual struggle.  Yet the heathen do as much as that.  But how many professing Christians demonstrate, by their daily conduct, that they are personally engaged in fighting a TOTAL WAR against such evil powers?  This is a war in which the "winner takes ALL".  That is "total war".

You wouldn't believe how many pastors and elders and deacons have argued with me ~ sometimes openly in the churches! ~ they insisting that "God loves the devil".  How can such men fight against the devil?  Their god loves the devil!  The whole situation is preposterous!  Yet, that's the reality amongst many church leaders, some of whom most people would never suspect of being so dark in their understanding.

I know very few Christians who appear to have a firm grasp on the reality of the war against demonic powers, and who furthermore seem to have fully given themselves to the service of Christ, in that conflict.  If ever there was an urgent need for godly men and women to be awakened and instructed concerning the realities of that war; and, then to press into the kingdom of God and lay hold of the inheritance that belongs to us in Jesus Christ; that time is right now.

My reading of Scripture is more and more focused on the wealth of revelation pertaining to God's purpose and plan for this End-time.  Whereas in years past my spiritual vision was far more limited, and my religious upbringing (in Pentecostal churches) conditioned me to expect only that the world would grow worse and worse until Jesus would come and take His own people out of the world.  Such an outlook is fatalistic; it is contrary to all that God has communicated to us in His Word.  But God has graciously and patiently led me to comprehend more clearly the great truths of His Word; whereby, I am sure I am much better able to understand all things, including His will.

"God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" (Psalm 62:11).

"Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.  Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:14-16)

The very next verse in that same passage just quoted, contains one of my favorite promises of Scripture: it is a promise of Revival:

"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." (Isaiah 41:17-18).

God has provided us with a great Savior and High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.  God has moreover offered to us the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the purpose that we ~ just like the disciples of old, may be "endued with power from on high".  None of which is a game.  This Salvation of God (may I say) is deadly serious business.  Our own eternal soul as well as the souls of our many loved ones, are the treasure which the devil seeks by all means to "steal, kill and destroy".

Coronavirus is just one more of Satan's devices ~ together with whatever diabolical political machinations may well lie behind this fear-driven crisis, whereby the devil at this time is waging his war against the saints of God.  The Bible informs us that the devil is especially filled with wrath at this present time: because, the devil knows his time is now very, very short (Revelation 12:12).

But where are the armies of Jesus Christ?  Where is the almighty power of God in the Body of Christ?  I reckon we have all but completely lost sight of what it means to be a "new creature in Christ", one who was "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13).  Those men (the apostles) knew something; they held within their consciousness a knowledge of God and of Christ, which knowledge WE URGENTLY NEED TO RECOVER UNTO OURSELVES.  The Word says that "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" ~ which means, everything of God ~ have been given to us by God's divine power, "through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3).  In other words, our divine inheritance consists in our "knowing" Jesus Christ.  Everything we will ever need ~ for this life, for this war ~ is to be found in Him.  "To be" found: through seeking and finding Him; through believing and obeying Him; through loving and serving Him; through knowing Him.

This present Age cannot and shall not end in the defeat of the Body of Christ.  The Body of Christ will experience TOTAL VICTORY in this TOTAL WAR.  The real concern, then, ought to be: whether or not I am in truth a part of Christ's Body.  No magic formula of words; no pattern of religious behaviors; no record of good deeds; no church membership; no fair reputation; none of those things makes one an integral member of the Body of Christ.

I hesitate even to say that "being joined together with" Jesus Christ makes one a part of His Body.  I am learning that Christ is not seeking a "partnership" with us.  His goal is not to reform us.  And if He will not reform us, how can we then serve Him?  His goal, rather, is to bring us to the utter end of ourselves, at which place we surrender ALL to Him.  We must go to the cross with Him ~ no, not to kneel there as he hangs upon the cross; but, we must understand and desire and believe that we were somehow IN Jesus when he allowed himself ~ and us with him ~ to be crucified.  Whereas we could never find the courage and strength to fully and finally crucify our own flesh; Jesus took us there by His divine strength and will.  We have but to believe and accept the fact that WE WERE CRUCIFIED with Him, in order that the Spirit of God may then, by grace, through faith, produce the outworking of Christ's life in us.  God doesn't intend to reform us, but to possess us and to fill us with His own Spirit.

Only such as know something about that divine Reality are at all capable then to fight and win this total war with the darkness of this evil world; and, to shine heaven's Light; and, to pour forth rivers of living water from the midst of their own being.  "As he is, so are we in this world."  How dare we say such things of ourselves, unless, they be true?  And if true, then where are the proofs, the manifestations, of His own ministry . . . in me?  In you?

We are at war ~ whether we believe it or not.  It is a war not of our own choosing.  The only choice we have is to decide to whom we will surrender: either to Jesus Christ, or to sin and death.

There is an answer from heaven to overcome this present crisis that is facing us.  Still, nothing related to the Coronavirus comes close to the importance of the infinitely more consequential war confronting us, namely, the war against the flesh, the world, and the devil ~ as we strive to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and to lead others out of the bondage of sin into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, through Jesus Christ.

I must briefly share an experience I had many years ago.  In my spirit, the Lord said to me: "I have prepared a table for you, whereon is everything you will ever need both in this life and in the life to come."  I then asked the Lord: "Why does it then seem to me that I am lacking so much?"  Immediately the answer came: "It is because you have an enemy who doesn't want you to have any of those things I have provided for you.  You overcome him; and it will all be yours."

Total war.  Winner takes all.  And by the grace and power of the Almighty, I intend to fight as to win this war.