Ephesians 6:10-15

“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” vs. 12

Even in the face of regular persecutions the early followers of Jesus knew that their greatest enemy was not the Roman emperor. They had a sense that beyond this world there were cosmic powers and spiritual forces battling every day for the soul of humanity. These invisible rulers and authorities were leading the struggle against the proclamation of the gospel of grace and their influences were subtle. We tend to have a different sense of cosmology, one that does not recognize the existence of such otherworldly dominions and instead embraces a scientific understanding of the universe. That doesn’t mean however that the early Christians were naive or mistaken. The wise among us still know that our most powerful enemies are not those of flesh and blood. There are forces beyond our understanding that have a powerful influence on our lives. Demonic spirits like racism and bigotry infect and influence millions. Lies and untruths sweep through the world of social media unchecked. Fear undermines convictions and distorts thinking. Greed, envy, and jealousy can capture our hearts in an instant and lead us to sacrifice decency and goodness on the altars of personal gain and narcissism. Paul was right! There’s more to this world than meets the eye–and woe to those who sell the enemy short.

Thought for the Day: How have racism and bigotry touched my life?