Opportunity

Minister message - March 27, 2023

This I beheld or dreamed in a dream. There spread a cloud of dust along a plain, and underneath that cloud, or in it, a furious battle raged. Men yelled, sword shocked upon sword and shield. A prince’s banner wavered, staggered backward hemmed in by foes, the battle almost lost. A coward hung along the battle’s edge and thought, “Had I the sword of keener steel, that the blue blade the king’s son bears, but this blunt thing...” He snapped, and flung it from his hand, then cowering, he crept away and left the battle field.

Then came the King’s Son, wounded, sore, bestead and weaponless, and He saw the discarded sword, hilt partially buried in the dry and trodden sand. He ran and snatched it, and with a battle shout lifted it afresh. He hewed His enemy down and saved a great cause that heroic day.

As I contemplated the above account, it reminded me of the admonition of the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 6:10-14). He describes the armour required to battle Satan. This armour includes girding your waist with truth, the breast plate of righteousness, your feet with peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. What always puzzled me about this armour account, was that it says nothing about protecting the soldier from a rear attack. Upon further study, I came to realize that the Roman soldiers were not trained to retreat, but to advance. They had each other’s back; hence, no armour was required there. Everyday we face opportunity to do battle with Satan. He is a cunning and subtle opponent, but we serve a General who has never lost a battle. Our Heavenly Father always has our back and the sword of His Spirit will never know defeat! Let us not fear when an opportunity presents itself to do battle with our timeless enemy- the victory will always be ours. Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Dennis Kresier, Layperson, Anglican Parish of Last Mountain