During the season of Advent, this past year of 2014, I sat
in our chapel with hundreds of other believers as the various candles of the Advent wreath were
lit each week. Our pastor shared a series of messages about the first Advent
that happened two thousand years ago as God sent His only Son, through a young
virgin, to set up a kingdom of love in the hearts of mankind. We know Him as Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, Son of
God - Savior. We discussed worship in Advent, the peace, “Shalom” that came in
to the world that night in the tiny town of Bethlehem. How wonderful it would be if our world was
identified by that shalom today. .
.we can but imagine.
And then, after discussing the “protagonist” of the Advent,
our pastor began to elaborate on the “antagonist” between the candles, the one
opposing the protagonist bringing difficulty and strain into our lives. I
listened intently and heard what I already knew but (my theory) it never hurts
to be reminded. How do we live knowing
that this antagonist of our souls lurks in the shadows of every area of our
lives? No areas are off limits to this Antagonist. His main goal is to seek and
destroy the things of Christ including those of us who proclaim Christ as
Savior. What we do. How we act and how we react determines how we live. Even when we prepare ourselves for battle
each day. . .
“Finally, be strong in the
Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the schemes of the devil. 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.
Therefore take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand
in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of
truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes
for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances
take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming
darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying
at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
. . .we are often blindsided and caught off guard.
As Christmas was rapidly sneaking up on us and the end of
the year creeping ever closer, I had no idea what the antagonist had in mind
for me and my family. How can we engage in this battle each and every day
without the type of armor mentioned by the Apostle Paul above? I tried to
picture what it must have been like on the night that our Savior made His entry
into a cold, heartless world and what his earthly father and mother faced in
keeping him safe from the antagonist. What happened in the following two weeks,
found me being gratefully thankful that I first had a personal relationship
with the Protagonist of the Christian’s life and second, that I knew how to put
on my “armor”.
My brother flew in alone to visit with us absent his wife
and son who stayed home to work. Long
story short, he arrived not feeling well and looking very poorly. By mid-morning
the following day, he was in the midst of a second heart attack (the
first occurring on the way TO the airport the previous day) when my oldest son,
who is a nurse at CLE Clinic, arrived, assessed him and drove him to the nearest CLE Clinic ER where he
was life-flighted to the CLE Clinic Main Campus. In less than 90 minutes, the doctor team had
performed life saving measures and techniques to save his life. He is not yet out of the woods and will have
additional procedures performed in February to remove blockages and stabilize
his heart, but he is alive – many, many were praying and the antagonist of his
soul failed in his attempt to prematurely snatch my brother’s life from him and
because of his personal relationship with the Protagonist, he is still with us.
My daughter and her family made a brief, whirlwind visit just
a few days before school was to restart after the holiday break. Marc was on
leave from the USN and he and Sophia stayed behind while Pamela and Gabi
traveled back to Norfolk in Bryan’s truck. Bryan, Val, Lyla, Marc and Sophia
would follow in just a few short days.
We don’t like our children making long journeys at night and
the night these five left for Norfolk was no exception. We prayed and entrusted them to God’s
keeping. About 3:00 AM, having missed an
all-important exit, the tired driver glanced down at the GPS only to miss a
blinking red light, signaling stop, and crashed broadside into a large van
having the right-of-way. When every air
bag had deployed within the Chevy Traverse and the five realized what had
happened, they were immediately grateful for God’s protection. While the vehicle was totally and completely
demolished, the antagonist’s plan, again, was foiled by the protecting hand of
God and His angels who had charge over our children and grandchildren.
“Because
you have made the Lord your dwelling place, the Most High, who is my refuge no evil shall be
allowed to befall you, no plague come near your dwelling. For he will
command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they
will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:9-12). . . .or crash into another vehicle. . .
It’s all about the Protagonist - our Savior – and the all-important
relationship that we have with Him. It
is because of that reason and the fact that we call upon our Heavenly Father
and trust in His mercy that the plans of the Antagonist are thwarted as he
attacks us time and time again.
Sitting quietly, alone with my thoughts
Christmas has slipped into the beginning of another year.
Advent past
Lights are dimmed. . .silence golden
Snow continues falling softly upon the landscape
Timeless decorations packed gently away with the memories of
another year
Thankful for family, grateful for friends
My brother’s life spared – my children alive
God is good – He’s given us another chance
Protagonist – it’s all about you!
Antagonist – you fall to defeat! Again. I have read the back
of the “the Book”.
We win!! Hallelujah!
We win!!!
-RS
