“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back...” (Revelation 12:7, ESV)
“Be nice!” That’s what the mother said to her son. Her son had come home with a black eye because of a fight after school. Not wanting to see her son with bruising, nor desiring for her boy to get into trouble at school, she just yelled at him to “Be nice!”. She didn’t ask about the cause of the fight. She didn’t know that her son had stood up for a little boy who was being pummeled by a bully for his lunch money. All the mother cared about was not causing trouble. Thus, she chastised her son to “Be nice!”.
When the boy’s father came home, the mother told him about the black eye. The father went to his son’s room and asked about the fight. After finding out about the cause of the fight and the way his son stood up to the bully and about the little boy who was being harassed, the father did not chastise his son. Instead, he taught the boy how to fight. He also spoke at long length to his son about when to run away, when to stand and fight, and how to work through a compromise. In the end, the boy felt much closer to his father. The boy felt that his father understood his situation. The father and son grew much closer.
In life, there is a time to compromise. Then again, there are times where a fight is inevitable. Some people will not compromise, try to find solutions, or listen to reason. Then, sadly, there can be no alternatives to a fight. Compromise will not work when evil intentions are at work. To compromise with a bully who will never be reasonable or give an inch will never help in the long run. Human beings can be very unreasonable and foolish. They can refuse to find solutions, help the needy, or listen to wisdom. The terrible result can be a fight with a bully, turf wars, or a world war.
What many people, even Christians, have to understand is that evil will never come to a fair resolution to a problem. Evil will ALWAYS fight good. Evil will ALWAYS fight God. Evil will not listen to reason or come to a lasting peace. Evil likes war and anarchy and destruction and hate and anything divisive. You may try to compromise with a person with evil intent, but it will never stand for long. You will always lose. Evil never really compromises for the good of all. Why? It doesn’t want the good of all!
In the scripture for today from the book of Revelation, we are informed of a future “war in heaven” (Revelation 12:7). Usually, people think of heaven as a place of peace and security and love. However, Satan and the dragon of Revelation will not stand for heaven to be ruled by God or peace or love. They want all the control of heaven and earth. They want their evil to reign supreme. God is standing in their way.
The passage from Revelation 12 speaks to how much Satan will never compromise with God or Jesus. Satan is willing to take the war of good versus evil all the way to heaven, to God’s throne. Satan “and his angels” fight against the archangel Michael and the angels of God (Revelation 12:7). Michael and God’s heavenly host stand “against the dragon”. There will be, in end times, a war in heaven. Satan will take on God. Evil will fight for ultimate control of earth and heaven. God will not stand for it. God’s angels will battle against it. Why? There can never be anything but a fight between good and evil.
Charles Spurgeon preached about this future war in heaven. He also explained that even now, this war is waging on earth. Evil is attempting to stamp out good. Spurgeon wrote:
“Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness. Michael (the archangel) will always fight… Jesus will always be the dragon’s foe, and that not in a quiet sense, but actively, vigorously, with full determination to exterminate evil. All his [Jesus’] servants, whether angels in heaven or messengers on earth, will and must fight; they are born to be warriors—at the cross they enter into covenant never to make truce with evil; they are a warlike company, firm in defence and fierce in attack. The duty of every soldier in the army of the Lord is daily, with all his heart, and soul, and strength, to fight against the dragon.
The dragon and his angels will not decline the affray; they are incessant in their onslaughts, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition: the more zealous we are, the more sure are we to be assailed by the myrmidons of hell. The servants of Satan partake much of the old dragon’s energy, and are usually an active race. War rages all around, and to dream of peace is dangerous and futile.
Glory be to God; we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and for ever destroyed, while Jesus and they who are with him shall receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords tonight and pray the Holy Spirit to nerve our arms for the conflict. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, and may the Lord tread Satan under your feet shortly!” (Morning and Evening).
Someday, maybe today, evil will come to wage war against you. Are you ready to fight against evil? Are you ready to stand with God? Or will you compromise, letting evil have its way. Some things cannot be compromised. You can’t give up God nor good to assuage the powers of evil. To do so will cost your soul. I have met those who compromised with evil. In the end, evil got the best of them.
May evil never get the best of you. Gird up your spiritual armor. Let’s fight this battle! We already know we are on the side of victory when we stand for God and against the powers of evil.
One word of warning! Sometimes, evil will disguise itself as good (see 2 Corinthians 11:14). Evil will present itself as more worthy, more reasonable, even more loving. Be careful you don't fall for its lies! Seek God's help and the Holy Spirit's direction in your faithful fights!
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10–13, ESV)
When the boy’s father came home, the mother told him about the black eye. The father went to his son’s room and asked about the fight. After finding out about the cause of the fight and the way his son stood up to the bully and about the little boy who was being harassed, the father did not chastise his son. Instead, he taught the boy how to fight. He also spoke at long length to his son about when to run away, when to stand and fight, and how to work through a compromise. In the end, the boy felt much closer to his father. The boy felt that his father understood his situation. The father and son grew much closer.
In life, there is a time to compromise. Then again, there are times where a fight is inevitable. Some people will not compromise, try to find solutions, or listen to reason. Then, sadly, there can be no alternatives to a fight. Compromise will not work when evil intentions are at work. To compromise with a bully who will never be reasonable or give an inch will never help in the long run. Human beings can be very unreasonable and foolish. They can refuse to find solutions, help the needy, or listen to wisdom. The terrible result can be a fight with a bully, turf wars, or a world war.
What many people, even Christians, have to understand is that evil will never come to a fair resolution to a problem. Evil will ALWAYS fight good. Evil will ALWAYS fight God. Evil will not listen to reason or come to a lasting peace. Evil likes war and anarchy and destruction and hate and anything divisive. You may try to compromise with a person with evil intent, but it will never stand for long. You will always lose. Evil never really compromises for the good of all. Why? It doesn’t want the good of all!
In the scripture for today from the book of Revelation, we are informed of a future “war in heaven” (Revelation 12:7). Usually, people think of heaven as a place of peace and security and love. However, Satan and the dragon of Revelation will not stand for heaven to be ruled by God or peace or love. They want all the control of heaven and earth. They want their evil to reign supreme. God is standing in their way.
The passage from Revelation 12 speaks to how much Satan will never compromise with God or Jesus. Satan is willing to take the war of good versus evil all the way to heaven, to God’s throne. Satan “and his angels” fight against the archangel Michael and the angels of God (Revelation 12:7). Michael and God’s heavenly host stand “against the dragon”. There will be, in end times, a war in heaven. Satan will take on God. Evil will fight for ultimate control of earth and heaven. God will not stand for it. God’s angels will battle against it. Why? There can never be anything but a fight between good and evil.
Charles Spurgeon preached about this future war in heaven. He also explained that even now, this war is waging on earth. Evil is attempting to stamp out good. Spurgeon wrote:
“Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness. Michael (the archangel) will always fight… Jesus will always be the dragon’s foe, and that not in a quiet sense, but actively, vigorously, with full determination to exterminate evil. All his [Jesus’] servants, whether angels in heaven or messengers on earth, will and must fight; they are born to be warriors—at the cross they enter into covenant never to make truce with evil; they are a warlike company, firm in defence and fierce in attack. The duty of every soldier in the army of the Lord is daily, with all his heart, and soul, and strength, to fight against the dragon.
The dragon and his angels will not decline the affray; they are incessant in their onslaughts, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition: the more zealous we are, the more sure are we to be assailed by the myrmidons of hell. The servants of Satan partake much of the old dragon’s energy, and are usually an active race. War rages all around, and to dream of peace is dangerous and futile.
Glory be to God; we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and for ever destroyed, while Jesus and they who are with him shall receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords tonight and pray the Holy Spirit to nerve our arms for the conflict. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, and may the Lord tread Satan under your feet shortly!” (Morning and Evening).
Someday, maybe today, evil will come to wage war against you. Are you ready to fight against evil? Are you ready to stand with God? Or will you compromise, letting evil have its way. Some things cannot be compromised. You can’t give up God nor good to assuage the powers of evil. To do so will cost your soul. I have met those who compromised with evil. In the end, evil got the best of them.
May evil never get the best of you. Gird up your spiritual armor. Let’s fight this battle! We already know we are on the side of victory when we stand for God and against the powers of evil.
One word of warning! Sometimes, evil will disguise itself as good (see 2 Corinthians 11:14). Evil will present itself as more worthy, more reasonable, even more loving. Be careful you don't fall for its lies! Seek God's help and the Holy Spirit's direction in your faithful fights!
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10–13, ESV)