Keep from Evil

"When you go out as an army against your enemies, you shall keep yourself from every evil thing." -Deuteronomy 23.9

God had promised Israel a great inheritance, but they would acquire it slowly so that the land would not be overrun with animals. They would have to take it by going to battle, and when they went out to war, they were to keep themselves from every evil thing.

God was giving them the land and they were to destroy the pagan worship that had taken place there. When they went out they were to carry the Ark of the Covenant before them, God leading them into battle and bringing victory, not an idol. They were not to engage in immoral acts, or false worship, but they were to remain holy and set apart as God's people as they took possession of what He had promised to give them.

We live in a world at war, and daily we are to be going out against our enemy, the devil, to take ground for the Kingdom. There are so many things out there, so much evil, that works to distract us from the mission. Time after time we are given opportunities to compromise, to water down the truth, to make exceptions, but that isn't how war is waged, and that isn't how battles are won in this fight. We cannot achieve victory through treaties and negotiations, this is a fight to the death, and we can only stay alive if we keep ourselves from evil.

Men, everyday we are surrounded by evil, and everyday there is the opportunity to participate in it. I love what Paul says to Timothy, it's a verse I will challenge my sons with, if I am blessed with some, but now I challenge each of you with them.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier." -2 Timothy 2.1-4

Let us be strong in the grace of Christ. Let us teach others the truth about God, and of His Gospel. Let us endure hardships, and keep ourselves from evil so that we may be pleasing to God.

I have talked a lot about the ancient Spartans, and when each warrior was presented with his shield, (an act performed by the mother, symbolically releasing her son into the world of men) it was given with the words "Return with your shield, or on it." The phalanx was the key to the Spartan armies strength, and the key to phalanx was each warriors shield. It was big and heavy, and if you were going to run, it would be the first thing you would abandon. That wasn't how Spartan's worked, they never compromised. They returned alive and victorious, or died on the battlefield.

Let us stand firm in truth and holiness. Let us cling to our shields and return carrying them, die on the field, being carried home on them. May we never compromise, never water down the truth, never make exceptions. Let us keep ourselves from evil, and live and die as holy men of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor