The War For Your Soul

We’re often advised to put down our phones, turn off negative news, and practice self-care because dwelling on tragic or toxic things can affect our well-being. But even when we unplug and retreat, it’s impossible to ignore the brokenness of the world. God is aware of this struggle. Through His word, He teaches how we can live with eternal hope in the midst of a war for our souls. Satan: The Ruler of Darkness The evil we see happening in the world is evidence of an ongoing, unseen spiritual war. God’s word, the Bible, explains “we wrestle not against flesh and blood [other humans], but against … the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12). At the beginning of human history, Satan, the ruler of darkness deceived Adam and Eve into rebelling against God, bringing the power and presence of evil into every human heart. We are all “dead in trespasses and sins” and unable to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus: The Light of the World Jesus, the sinless Son of God, came to rescue us from the power of darkness. Jesus proclaimed: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). On the cross, Jesus died to take the punishment our sins deserve, then rose from the grave to offer us forgiveness and eternal life. To receive this gift from God, “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” and “believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead” and “thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). The Reality of Heaven and Hell Without trusting in Jesus, however, we are condemned for another kind of eternity. Hell is a real place, which the Bible describes as everlasting fire, of “wailing and gnashing of teeth,” and ultimately, “everlasting destruction [separated] from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (see Matthew 18:8-9; Matthew 13:42; and 2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is an awful, eternal destination for those who refuse the salvation that Jesus offers. We all must deal with the reality of Hell, but we don’t have to dwell on it. The Bible does not warn you about Hell to make you anxious or upset—rather, the warning is because of God’s love for you, and His desire to save you and make Heaven your eternal home with Him instead. Turn from Darkness & Trust in Jesus You can have victory in this war for your soul! When you recognize that sin separates you from God and put your faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness, you can confidently say: He has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son [Jesus Christ]: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). Even amid the troubling realities of evil in this world, you can live with the joy-filled hope of eternal life in God’s kingdom, and proclaim “the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Will you trust Jesus to rescue you out of darkness and lead you into the light of everlasting life?