On June 6, 1944 thousands of men were on ships and they were approaching a beach on the edge of France. The men on the ships were silently preparing as they approached the beach going over things they had been trained on, in their minds.
You see these men were not approaching this beach for a vacation with their family, they were not going to sit in the sand and enjoy a picnic with their wives while their kids ran around. These men were approaching a battleground.
The Christian life is a war. Everyday we wake up heading towards a new battlefield. So many of us approach life like a playground. What is going to be fun for me to do today? Or how is this day going to serve me? We need to stop approaching life like a playground and start realizing that it is a battleground, similar to what was awaiting them on the beaches of Normandy, we wake up and battle the evils of this world. We are battling Satan.
John the Baptist was sent before Jesus to prepare the way for Him, to start spreading the news that a savior is coming. Matthew 3:1-3, says In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight paths for him.'”
I believe we are called to pave the way for the second coming of Jesus. To be the John the Baptists of our day. Meaning, we need to wake up and prepare ourselves, in order to go and share the gospel and to prepare others. Paul talks in ephesians about how it is easy to slumber but we have to get up and fight. Because we are at war. People’s lives are at risk.
How do we engage in warfare? 1. We reflect Christ in everything we do. How we act, speak, love, it all must reflect Jesus Christ. 2. We must drive the gospel deep into our hearts and we do this by being intentional. Intentional with our time, choosing to grow in Godliness. Memorizing scripture, digging into the word. Honestly, it even comes down to who you hang out with. Are you surrounding yourself with people who reflect Jesus? With people who help push you into being better prepared for battle? Or are you over there hanging out on the monkey bars with people who won’t challenge you spiritually? We have got to stop being spectators.
We must remind ourselves constantly of what we as Christians are here to do. Serve Jesus and Serve Others. Let’s pack the Kingdom. Let’s take as many people with us as we can. Let’s constantly declare the Glory of God to one another. We are meant to be together as a body. We gather together as saints to hold each other accountable and to spread the love of God together.
I want to close with this verse:
“Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the LORD’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17
Much Love,
Kylie
