The disciples of the Lord asked
him to tell them of the signs which would immediately precede
his coming again at the end of the world. He told them that
many deceivers would come in his name. pretending that they are his
spokesmen in order to gain a following, deceiving many in the process. He said they should not be surprised,
for such is the nature of men who will bend upon establishing
their own righteousness while not submitting themselves unto
his. He went on to say that the wickedness
of this world would continue as it always has, regardless
of the manifestation of God's truth and the ongoing establishment
of His kingdom, which is not of this world, even though this
kingdom is made quite manifest in this world, yet the natural
man cannot see it or enter therein. He told them that the course
of human history and the activities of nations would continue as
it has since the beginning. Then he used the illustration
of the common nature of warfare among nations, which has been
going on since the very earliest days of civilization until the
present hour and, according to him, shall do so even right up
until the end. Now just as surely as the nations
of this earth shall have conflict with one another, so too it is
a certainty that this world shall be in conflict with his kingdom.
Therefore the children of the kingdom must of necessity be
set in battle array against all that would set itself against
him and the seed of his power and glory. James speaks of this
conflict. Know ye not that the friendship
of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God. The Lord went on to say,
No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. While the nations of this world
continue to fight against one another with material weapons
of slaughter and mayhem, each one bent upon the destruction
of the other, this is completely at odds with the nature of the
weapons which those who are called as the subject of his kingdom
and the soldiers of his army are equipped with. Paul said
it quite well, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,
casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ. This sort of warfare
is not pleasing to the flesh, which is constantly looking for
outward signs of triumph. Nor does it serve the interests
of the flesh. The triumphs of this kingdom
are not often readily observed, and sometimes seem tediously
slow. As the Lord said, the kingdom
of God cometh not with observation. Though not satisfying to the
flesh, the triumph of this warfare is certain, because the battle
belongs to the Lord. It is with this in mind that
Paul exhorts Timothy to war a good warfare. That soldier who is
the most effective in this battle, which is waged against the kingdom
of God, is the one who is the most certain of the outcome of
this conflict. For those who have been taught
of him, who is the commander-in-chief, recognize that it is he, and
not them, who does assure the victory, since he has overcome
all of his foes, triumphing over them openly. As long as we are
in this present evil world, we can be certain that there will
be resistance to our Master's rule. The gospel of Christ is
the chief weapon which is at the disposal of those whom the
Lord has called to battle, and it is by this mighty power that
all of the triumphs of the kingdom of God are made manifest. Imaginations
are hereby cast down, along with everything which would exalt
itself against the knowledge of God. This is the rallying
cry of all who would fight a good fight, and is the standard which
is lifted up against the enemy. A good warfare is that which
recognizes to whom the battle belongs, and he who has triumphed
gloriously. This is the purpose of preaching
the gospel. A good warfare is that which
relies upon him who is a very present help in trouble. A good
warfare is that which rests upon the equipment and strength which
he provides for those whom he sends to battle. The Lord will
provide all things needful for the sons of God to be faithful
to the calling which he has given them.