Prepared For Battle

We have a pest in our area.
It is a nuisance to homeowners.
It can be found on sidewalks and buildings.
It can be found on patios and trees.

The pest is now a threat to our state’s grape, fruit tree, and logging industries.
The Department of Agriculture has placed a quarantine on certain areas.
The greatest threat comes from transporting things that contain the egg masses.
Those egg masses are found on smooth bark, stone, and other vertical surfaces.

The pest is known as the spotted lanternfly.
Actually quite interesting to look at, the spotted lanternfly leaves devastation in its wake.
It was accidentally introduced in Korea in 2006 and considered a pest since 2007.
It has attacked 65 plant species and does not seem to have a natural enemy.

My daughter and her husband live about twelve minutes away from me.
The spotted lanternfly is everywhere in their town.
My son-in-love has spent hours trying to kill them in the way we are instructed.
Finally, an exterminator was called in to systemically treat some of their trees.

It has proved helpful.
The infestation got so bad, my daughter did not want to take my granddaughter outside.
The spotted lanternfly does not bite humans.
However, it is easy for some to get in the car or on clothes to be carried elsewhere.

I saw a picture that my friend posted.
It was a picture of three of her adorable grandchildren.
They were wearing masks and bearing swords.
They were ready; the spotted lanternfly did not stand a chance.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Those sweet children were so ready to battle the enemy.
I thought of each of us and the battle we fight every day.
Are we as ready to fight as those children?
Do we dress ourselves ready for battle?

In ancient warfare, the soldier’s shield was a full body shield.
The shield was made of leather.
The soldiers wet the leather with water.
That wet leather made it possible for the fiery arrows of the enemy to be extinguished.

Can you imagine the fiery darts being aimed at the soldier?
Can you see the full body shield protecting him?
Can you hear the sizzle?
Can you see the arrow fall to the ground; the fiery dart extinguished?

The full body shield only protected the front of the soldier.
The soldier could never turn his back on the enemy.
If the soldier turned his back on the enemy, his protection was gone.
He faced his enemy with his weapons in his hand.

The children may not make much progress in the elimination of the spotted lanternfly.
However, they are trying.
They are ready.
Their weapons are in their hands.

How about us?
We fight a culture war every day.
We fight the enemy of God, who is also the enemy of our souls.
Do we put our armor on first?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

We do not stand a chance against the enemy unless we are fitted with the right weapons.
It is warfare.
It is playing for keeps.
If we are in Christ, we know the Victor.

Ours is not a battle on some distant soil.
Ours is not a battle that is fought with modern weaponry.
Ours is a battle that has been going on since the creation of the world.
Ours is a battle of good and evil.

The enemy of our souls counts on our complacency.
The enemy of our souls cannot be underestimated.
The enemy of our souls would like us to fight the battle ill-equipped.
The enemy of our souls hopes that we do not take this battle seriously.

God knows that we are soldiers in the battle of good and evil.
We have all the pieces of His armor that we need for the battle.
We have one weapon that is invincible.
We have the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

That piece of our armor is both offensive and defensive.
The Word of God will strike down nations and the enemies of the one true God.
One Word from His mouth will quiet them.
One Word.

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)

Are your ready?
Do you have your armor on?
Do you hold the Sword of the Spirit firmly in your hand?
The enemy does not stand a chance.