Battlefields
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesOn a recent vacation trip, our family visited two Civil War battlefield sites. One of these sites was in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the other site was on Lookout Mountain right on the border between Georgia and Tennessee. At these sites men fought and loss of life occurred; Great victories were wrought, and tremendous tragedies were suffered. We read of other great battlefields in the Bible.
The first one that comes to mind is where David met Goliath. On one side stood the Israelites, the army of God. On the other side stood the Philistines, God’s enemy. Every day Goliath came and challenged God’s army. Every day the challenge was met unanswered. Finally, David, son of Jesse, while bringing lunch to his brothers, heard Goliath, met his challenge, and conquered him through God’s help. On that day a great victory was won for truth.
Another great battlefield was in the wilderness when Satan approached and tempted the Christ. Matthew records three temptations that Jesus endured. “Command these stones to be turned to bread,” was Satan’s cry. “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” was Jesus’ answer (Matthew 4:4). “Cast thyself down” said Satan. Again Jesus answered, “It is written, thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7). In a final offensive the Devil said, “All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Jesus said, “It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). Again, on that day a great victory for truth was won.
There is another battlefield not mentioned in the Bible which I recently had the opportunity to visit. At this location also a great victory for truth was won. The battlefield that I am considering now is the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The warrior that I am considering is brother N.B. Hardeman. On this battlefield brother Hardeman preached and defended the truth in numerous sermons and at least one great debate, the Hardeman–Boswell debate on the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship. It was here also that the forces of Satan were routed and a great victory for truth was won.
There is a battlefield today. It is in your own town. Satan is waging war against the saints of God, and God wants you to put on his whole armor to stand against evil (Ephesians 6:13). You, like David, brother Hardeman, and our Lord Jesus the Christ, can subdue the forces of evil with the sword of the Spirit. However, one must learn how to wield this sword. He must study the scriptures daily and train himself in the art of spiritual warfare. Now more than ever, the church needs warriors. Let us vow to do as the apostle Paul charged Timothy, “war the good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18).