Waging War by George W. Beasley

No matter what version of the Bible you are reading, the following passage from Revelation remains constant in its message to followers of Jesus. There is a war, and it’s waged against us.

Revelation 12:15-18 (NLT)

The Woman and the Dragon

“Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon. And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.”

You might think that everything is okay. But think again. The people we see every day, the people we meet every day, and the people we love every day are in a battle. For the most part, they don't even realize it. They smile, they laugh, and they look as though life is good. Even writing this story has had its difficulties. I’ve had some strange dreams lately. I’ve been on edge and fighting to find time to write these few words about the enemy waging war against us.

In war, you don't show your weakness or your struggles. In war, you survive. The passage is clear that the enemy is angry and has declared war on all of us who maintain our testimony for Jesus.

We must remember that, as humans, we are jacked up and a complete mess. We can’t buy into the lie that maintaining our testimony for Jesus means we are perfect. We are not! Standing with our commander, Jesus, is our testimony. No matter where you are right now and what you've done, Jesus loves you and is fighting the war with you and for you. He wants you to win! Drop the façade and ask your friends for help in this war. Do it together!

Don’t give up! You are close to the victory. The battle is most difficult near the end, but let me assure you, you will win. It doesn't even matter if you fall during the battle. Our commander, Jesus, will pick you up. He will pull you out of that pit, stand you on your feet, and give you strength to move forward. Jesus loves you!

Think about where you are in life right now. Did you ever think you would end up there? I never thought this would happen to me. Hell no, you didn’t. That’s the war that is raging around you and in your life. It’s a war! Wake up!

So, what’s next? After every battle, there is a time of relaxation, a time of peace. Enjoy those times as the war will continue. Note verse eighteen, “Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea.” The enemy stands, but so do we. Get up and fight!

You might have been knocked down, beaten up, broken, busted, and disgusted, but you are still alive. That means one thing—you are still in the battle, and you're not out! As a believer, you already have the victory, so claim that. Fight for what you know is true and fight with all your might.

Stand strong for those who will come after you. They will need you!

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