The Strategy for Spiritual Battle
Illustration by Pastor Tony Evans.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. —Galatians 2:20
Illustration by Tony Evans in his book, “Victory in Spiritual Warfare”
A father and his son were traveling across the Wild West in a wagon one day when a prairie fire broke out. The father and his son tried to outrun the wildfire in their wagon, but they quickly realized that it wasn’t going to work. The fire was coming too fast, and unless they tried something else, it would catch up to them and consume them.
Much to the confusion of the son, the father turned the horse and wagon around and rushed directly back toward the fire. He took them to a spot that had already been burned and yelled to his son, “Jump out and stand here. Don’t move!”
They both jumped out, but the boy became afraid as he saw the fire raging and moving toward them. He wanted to run, but his father grabbed his hand and said, “Don’t move son. Stand firm!”
“But the fire is almost here,” the son cried, his voice shaking with fear. “I don’t understand.”
“This spot has already been burned,” his dad replied. “There is nothing left for the fire to grab. The fire will come near, but it cannot burn again what has already been burned once before.” The boy was safe because he stayed with his father in a place that the fire could not reach.
As Satan battles you in spiritual warfare, he wants you to step away from the ground that has already been burned in the spiritual realm, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus has already been crucified, and His resurrection has already secured the victory. Satan can’t touch you when you stay close to Christ. If you stand firm in the center of the safest location—the cross, where the victory has been accomplished—you will stand victoriously because Satan can’t reach you there.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, strengthen me in my spiritual battles. When the enemy tempts me to wander, draw me back to the only safe place—Jesus. I will stand victorious because You have already won. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.