Guerilla Christianity

Evil proves there is a God. This may sound counterintuitive but when tragedy strikes, we are left soul searching. During World War II, for Viktor Frankl, life began to have no meaning. He was a doctor who was held in high esteem. One day his world was turned upside down. Nazi Germany had taken over his beloved country, but more importantly, he and his family became imprisoned in a concentration camp. Each family member was taken to a separate camp and unbeknownst to him, this would be the last time he ever saw them. Upon Frankl’s arrival to Auschwitz, the stench of burning flesh was undeniable. Despair engulfed the bleak surroundings because camp meant only one thing: slave labor leading to death. Many detainees in the camp drove themselves to madness at the prospect of burning in the hot furnaces of Auschwitz. Others lamented the meaningless of their existence. During times of his utter despair, Viktor thought about seeing his wife, envisioning her bright smile. At times he conversed with her in his mind. An amazing revelation came to Viktor during this intimate fellowship: his love for her revealed that life’s greatest purpose, the central reason for existence, was love. Frankl kept himself alive and kept hope alive by summoning up thoughts of his wife and the prospect of seeing her again, and by dreaming at one point of lecturing after the war about the psychological lessons to be learned from the Auschwitz experience. This revelation provided him with the will to live throughout his imprisonment. He understood that in the direst of circumstances life had potential, even amid unfathomable suffering. Viktor said he would not have survived without this understanding. Our battle is not against people. They are merely influenced by their own sin, rebellion, and satanic forces. Our battle is against principalities, powers, rulers of this present darkness – evil spirits in the world. It illustrates Satan’s power and influence over the world to cause destruction. Since Satan is a spirit, he works in the spiritual realm to influence a person’s inner spirit, to do his bidding. He is one actual being who cannot be in two places at once. He has demon spirits who operate under his command. These demon spirits are carrying out his destructive warfare. The troubling times I write about are not the little annoyances or discomforts in life. I am referring to the type of trials in which your faith is tested severely, trials that bring you to your knees and make you wonder, “Will I survive?” Often, these types of trials can consume us and make us feel like life is not worth living. All hope feels lost. I would like to share a personal example My wife had numerous health problems. There were days when the pain was so severe that it was impossible for her to do anything. It affected her outlook on life and she suffered severe depression because of it. Eventually, the depression got the best of her. One day, a year after our divorce, she asked me over to the house. Things were not going well with one of our children and she asked me to stop by. Just before I was ready to leave, she asked, “Do you still love me?”. There was a very long period during our separation that I tried to reconcile with her. But after everything that happened between us, my heart was numb. I answered how I felt at that moment and said no. Three days later she died by suicide - a bullet, shot through her heart. Mine and my children’s lives would never be the same. We all go through trials that are not fair. We all have tragedy that befalls us; nobody is immune to it. Have you ever asked yourself why did it happen? It is in this soul-search that life gains meaning. Contrary to what we may feel and experience, our battle is not against other people in the world. Instead, our battle is against principalities, powers, and evil spirits in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). This scripture speaks about dark forces that control the world – specifically demons. We do not have to look far to see that death, sickness and despair is all around us. We, as Christians, must prepare for battle and use our spiritual weapons of warfare to be victorious against evil that befalls us. The battle waged against us is real and without the protection of God, we would be destroyed. Jesus himself said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). So how do we get this full life? The Holy Spirit is the great transformational power that lies within every Christian. Most believers are aware of the rebirth that comes at the time of acceptance of Jesus as Savior (John 3:16). Many believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within them. But if His Spirit is inside the children of God, why isn't the Spirit’s power more evident in Christians? Satan has no power other than what a person gives him, and this is because he is spirit and cannot operate in a physical world. Similarly, the Holy Spirit must have a willing participant to do God's will. Jesus said that God’s work is abundant, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37). This illustrates the need for people to carry out the Holy Spirit's objectives - God's will. There is a parallel universe which operates around us, and while we physically cannot see it, this spiritual realm is as real as the concrete, physical realm. The prince of the power of the air—Satan—is ruler of this realm; he is one of many spirits that operate in this invisible dimension (John 12:31). What is the believer’s strongest defense against the enemy? I believe it is discovering the meaning, or purpose, for our existence and then living out that purpose—the reason why God placed us on this earth. There is something bigger out there for everyone to strive for. There must be a greater good that drives you to succeed. It is my desire for the reader to be inspired and find their purpose in life. You will be challenged by circumstances, and many obstacles in your path. You will have Satan and his angels discourage you – to stop your pursuit. I have learned that when one becomes focused on making a difference in people’s lives, life becomes worth living. When our desire is to help someone else, it allows God to work in our life. When we live with God’s clarity and direction it provides a powerful reason to live. Too many people live life with no purpose or direction, and they are defeated. Many others are led by a purpose that is not directed by God. But when it is directed by God, you are the only one who can stop its pursuit. Life is about finding wisdom and using it. It is about serving God and participating in His plan for salvation. God has gifted each one of us with unique talents to fulfill this plan. The ability is there right now. We are fully equipped to achieve our destiny. True happiness happens when life is lived for God. It is about finding your talents and using them for the good of others. However, living out your purpose will be met with opposition from many forces, some earthly and some spiritual. When we stay committed to using our gifts for God, He directs us on a path to fulfillment. When a person finds their calling, it will ignite a passion to perform it. Life will be given a whole new meaning, a walk in His Spirit. I believe all of us have a call on our lives; to do God’s will within the context of the talent given to us. Our confidence and identity can become defined by God, absent of worldly desires that try to define us. Life becomes easier when it is lived with passion and a sense of purpose to please God. He will bless us when we seek Him (Colossians 3:1-4)