The intersection of visible and invisible is right in the middle of where we live; right between our ears. A spiritual war is present and raging around, affecting the souls of every man, women, and child. Spiritual warfare by the enemy blinds us to the truth and can ruin our lives. Florence Nightingale made his observation: “Life is a hard fight, a struggle, a wrestling with the principal of evil, hand to hand, foot to foot. Every inch of the way is disputed.” There is no arguing that life has its challenges, it is fight or flight. Many chose to flee because they are not strong in the Lord.

            Jesus was aware of the battle between good and evil. The night before Jesus’ crucifixion, He was in agony and tempted to quit. Not only was Jesus supernatural with God, He was man in the flesh just like you and I and was subjected to temptation just as we are tempted. The Bible tells us that Jesus was in such agony that He actually sweated drops of blood. (Luke 22:44) Jesus knew that the salvation that He had made available for us would open our minds to the way that we see things. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians that our minds would be the greatest battle ground. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see he light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Spiritual warfare that is waged by Satan attacks the way we think, it cause us to doubt the things that we can not see. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that it isn’t real. The Spiritual war began before man, Satan moved the battle to the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve and will continue until God cast Satan into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20)

            Ephesians 6:10-20 begins with two commands to fight this spiritual warfare. We must “Be strong in the Lord,” and “Put on the full armor of God.” Alone we are no match for the enemy; to be strong in the Lord is not an option. Verse 12 tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood since our foes are not human, even though Satan uses man to carry out his deeds. Verses 13-17 describes he Armor of God, having your loins gird about with truth (referring to the truth of the cross). The next piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness (the righteousness of Christ, which comes by and through the cross). Your feet are to be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace (again comes through the cross). Verse 16 says “Above all, taking the Shield of Faith (making the cross the center of your faith is the only faith that God will recognize and he only faith that Satan will recognize). Taking the Helmet of Salvation (is the renewing of our minds and the understanding that everything we receive from he Lord comes through the cross). The final piece of armor is the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). Praying always, combined with the Armor of God will have you better equipped for Spiritual Warfare.

            Verse 11 commands us to put on the armor of God; it does not suggest that it might be a good idea. This verse expresses urgency, you have no choice, and you are in this conflict. Every believer will be drawn into this conflict and will either face up to or be defeated by invisible war.

            To some old age is a curse and for others old age is only a beginning. Here is a good twist, start a family when you are 100. Abraham had been promised by God to become the father of a great nation and Sarah wife of Abraham who was ninety, would become mother of the Jewish Nation. Not only was Sarah infertile, she was past her child bearing years. God had plans of His own. In Genesis 17:15-16 God told Abraham that He had blessed Sarah and that she would bear a son. Imagine what a laugh that would have made down at the old folks home. Sarah in that same year had a son whom she named Isaac which means “he laughs”, a rather appropriate name.

            From the Nation of Israel God chooses another couple up in years and again past child bearing age for yet another phase of His plans. Zechariah had been praying for years for a son and now in the temple an angel, Gabriel, announced that his wife Elizabeth was with child. The child’s name would be called John, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, and that he would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord. Zechariah, being so old, was doubtful of this being true and was smitten dumb and remained speechless until the baby was born.

            Here is two times that God has answered prayer when folks thought that they were too old to handle things. God has a timetable for everything that he does, even if we think that we are too old. We just have to quite saying “I can’t” and start saying “bring it on”. Sometimes you might feel like you have to run to keep up with God, yet at His time He will direct your steps. Abraham was called to become the father of a great Nation of Israel. Zechariah became the father of John the Baptist, the point man, the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord.

            These two miracle pregnancies marked the beginning of the birth of a nation and a prophet that would introduce Jesus to the world. John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world in John 1:29-31 completing his God ordained assignment. John was beheaded at a young age of about thirty-four. No one knows when you are too old to be used by God. You just might get called on to tell about Jesus’ birth, His death, and His Resurrection. Let someone know what He has already called on you to do.

            If my body was a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in on a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, my paint job is getting a little dull. But that’s not the worst of it. My headlights are out of focus and it’s getting hard to see things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things in even the best of weather. My whitewalls are bumpy with varicose veins. It takes hours to reach maximum speed. My fuel now burns inefficiently. But here’s the worst thing of all: Almost every time I sneeze, cough, or laugh, either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires.

            That little comparison for the Editor’s Notebook of the latest issue of the Farm Show Magazine got me to thinking about the new body and new life that the Bible promises us. There is no cash involved; Jesus paid the price when He shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary for our sins. II Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” When a person is saved by the blood of Jesus, they become a new creature; there is no need for the old because everything given to us by Christ is new. Many have people have been left with scars from some experience in their past, they will be washed away too.

            I Corinthians 15 tell about the Resurrection. Belief in the Resurrection is crucial to ones Salvation. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death so Jesus had to die for every known sin. Jesus died for our sin, was buried and rose on the third day, this done in atonement of our sin. The Resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of all believers. Verse 44 of chapter 15 says “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a Spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a Spiritual Body.” Our glorified body will be like His. The ultimate victory comes when we are called to be with our Savior, to be with Him, incorruptible, perfect in every way, and will never die.

            Yes, there are a lot of things that we can find wrong with our earthly or natural body. Some folks spend thousands of dollars to dress up the body that they have. It is only temporary, God will call His followers home one day and they will have a new body, perfect in ever way.

            This is the real deal, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, for your clunker, a deal signed in blood.