And do this,
understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your
slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The
night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of
darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11-12
Some day
the Church can relax her guard, call her watchmen down from the wall and live
in safety and peace—but not yet, not yet!
All that is
good in the world stands as a target for all that is evil and manages to stay
alive only by constant watchfulness and the providential protection of Almighty
God.
The Church
lives in a hostile world. Within and around her are enemies that not only could
destroy her, but are meant to and will unless she resists force with yet
greater force. The Christian would collapse from sheer external pressure were
there not within him a counterpressure sufficiently great to prevent it. The
power of the Holy Spirit is, therefore, not optional but necessary. Without it
the children of God simply cannot live the life of heaven on earth. The
hindrances are too many and too effective!
A church is
a living organism and is subject to attack from such enemies as prey on living
things. The human body can fight its enemies even while it is asleep, but the
Church cannot. She must be awake and determined—or she cannot win.
She must
recognize her enemies for what they are and she must resist them: Unbelief,
Complacency, Self-righteousness, Fear of Man, Love of Luxury, Secret Sympathy
with the world, Self-confidence, Pride and Unholy thoughts. These we must
resist with every power within us, looking unto Jesus, author and finisher of
our faith!
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