When times are tough it always seems like one is alone. Good guys never have it easy. Yet the story line is more about how we feel than what is true reality. In battle one easily loses sight of comrades in arms. I don’t think anyone does it on purpose; it is just a matter of how intensely we focus ourselves on winning the battle. I do wonder if there is more to the process than how we naturally “see” the scene.
The battle was of epic proportions. Lives were at stake and a few had already been lost. Principles were on the line and evil appeared to be winning. The enemy had engaged with a wide range of successful tactics for which I didn’t have any answer. The intensity was only increasing and my losses were growing by the day. Nothing appeared to be working. The hope of yesterday wasn’t backed up with confidence given today’s analysis. The fight was ugly, painful, and bloody and it only seemed as if it was going to get worse.
It did get worse and eventually a turning point came and evil appeared to win. As everyone moved on I spent a few hours debriefing with a new potential supporter I had never even considered. Our conversation went along the following lines.
“How does one fight evil?”
“I am not sure. Can you given me an example of what was an evil action?”
“It goes like this…
“Oh, that isn’t a problem. I wish I had known. I could have easily helped!”
“How?”
“We could have just done this…”
What followed was an ethical way of countering evil that I had never considered or had the tools to utilize. If only I realized that others were on the case.
Life’s fight isn’t that different. There are many who are willing to join you and me in our cause with God. If there is any doubt remember, “Judah will be filled with people, Jerusalem inhabited forever.” (Joel 3.20) The end of the battle is not in doubt; God wins.
