For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
–Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
I grew up knowing the saying, “Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.” As I think about that saying now, I realize it means choosing to not get involved with something that is wrong.
It is kind of like Sergeant Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes saying, “i know nothing.” He chose to not get involved in dealing with something.
The picture of the skeletons and Sergeant Schultz’s quote are funny. The above verse is pretty serious.
The verse talks about an unseen enemy that I face. “This Present Darkness” is part of a series of books that my wife has read. She tells me that it communicates the spiritual battle going on around us in a way that makes it real. She really wants to see the books become movies!
I think the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” want me to trivialize evil. They want me to just laugh evil off.
Yet this verse talks about active involvement. Wrestling is a close contact sport. This verse challenges me to get personal with evil.
How do I do that?
The next verse and those that follow talk about putting on the whole armor of God so that I can stand firm as I engage evil. I want to do that. I want to wear spiritual armor, and wrestle with and defeat the evil around me.
Prayer: Heavenly Father. You are light in the darkness. Forgive me for not taking evil seriously. I take up Your armor so that I can fight against the evil spiritual forces. Give me discernment so that as I do, I can love the “flesh and blood” others who desperately need You.
