Our Fight

God has not yet begun judging the nations, introducing His just government on Earth under the direction of His Anointed One.

No, on the contrary, in His sovereignty, grace, and goodness, He is saving sinners among the nations before judgment falls.

Therefore, we, who are saints with a heavenly calling—saints because we have been washed by the blood of the Lamb of God and have a heavenly vocation, entirely above and beyond this world—should not concern ourselves with worldly matters, but rather with the Kingdom of God and the things belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ, as stated in Acts 28:31.

“Let the shard of clay contend with the shards of clay of the earth.”

(Isaiah 45:9, King James Version)

Lot was involved in the affairs of guilty Sodom; he sat as a judge at the city gate. And what happened to him? When the four kings waged war against the five, Lot, his family, and all his possessions became part of the spoils of war.

It is true that his uncle Abram, a man separated from Sodom, rescued him, but Lot never displayed the character of a pilgrim, which was appropriate for a saint of God in those days.

The world had a victorious hold over his soul. He returned to settle in Sodom and there tormented his righteous soul until the very day of the city’s terrible destruction.

Dear saint of God, be very careful!

Our struggle continues without cease.

There is no leave of absence! The devil and his well-organized armies have not yet surrendered!

The only struggle that God recognizes as the struggle of Christians—of holy brothers and sisters with a heavenly calling—not only has not ended but is growing in intensity as time runs out for the devil.

*“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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)

Here, I transcribe a passage from a letter received from a servant of the Lord, which said:

“The devil is busy leading blind hearts and minds further and further away, and Satan remains a deceiver, well-versed in his craft. There seems to be an increasing number of demons working everywhere.”

The great house of 2 Timothy 2:20, which represents organized Christendom, is becoming filled with them. Will it not eventually degenerate into great Babylon, the dwelling place of demons and the haunt of every unclean spirit and every unclean and detestable bird?

This is written in Revelation 18:2.

“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

(Ephesians 5:14)

Oh, think of the work He has done for us and for His own glory, and of the privilege we have of being His in this world.

We are spared from divine judgment, just as the sons of Korah were (Numbers 26:11), purchased by the very blood of the Lamb of God, the very Son of God, made into a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We have a royal priesthood to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and we are carried upon His heart in continual remembrance in the High Priest’s priesthood, just as the twelve stones were carried on the breastplate of the high priest in Israel.

By God’s undeserved favor, we have been brought into the Beloved, just as Mephibosheth was brought into the royal sphere of David for the sake of Jonathan. We are called to walk in a scene of rejection in this world, seeking the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is like those who shared in David’s years of rejection in the wilderness; later, they shared in all His glory and the glory of His Kingdom.

We are co-heirs of everything the Father has given to His Son, just as Rebekah shared in all that Abraham gave to Isaac, for the Father loves the Son and has placed everything into His hands (John 3:35).

Thus, we are brought into the most intimate relationships of love, into the circle of eternal love between the Father and the Son, loved as the Son is loved, and even now, partakers of that divine nature, which is LOVE.

We remain here on Earth for a short while and should represent Him before all men, being therefore blameless and sincere children of God, without fault in the midst of a corrupt and perverse generation, among whom we shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16).

“We are justified by the blood of Christ, sanctified, set apart for God through the Truth and through the effective intercession of the One who set Himself apart for us.”

Glory with Christ in the heights is our eternal portion, into which we will soon enter; the Earth, Heaven, and the Universe under His feet and under ours as well, and eternal, ineffable love is the portion assigned to us.

“What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”

(2 Peter 3:11)

James Harrison Smith