Use ’em or Lose ’em

If I don’t have all of me, then what remains of me will suffer in the good fight.

And there’s no battle Christ’s disciple shouldn’t expect to fight. The apostle Paul reminded the congregations at Corinth:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the destruction of fortresses…” [2Cor. 10:3-4]

Unfortunately for me, the Evil One knows how vulnerable a man can be. For example, if he can cut off my thumbs, I’m worthless in battle or self defense. I can neither hold nor wield a weapon. I can also confirm the historicity of this condition by reading. [see: Judges 1:4-7]

But what he really wants are my “spiritual thumbs.” In the same way my physical thumbs are integral to accomplishing basic tasks, so also is my capacity to fight the spiritual war being waged against Jesus Christ and His ecclesia in this age—along with the means to defend the temptations and lusts of the world.

Both types of thumbs are something we take for granted—until they’re gone.

The reality is that, if my thumbs are actually severed from my hands, I’d notice immediately. But if my spiritual thumbs are taken from me, I’m likely to not even notice at first. In fact, I’d probably feel a false sense of freedom to act upon what I normally would flee from.

Too many men today have lost their “thumbs.” It’s no wonder they can’t find a way to fight for their integrity and purity any more.

Evidence of lopsided battles are littered throughout our communities at every level of public enterprise or jurisdiction. Sadly, our homes and congregations are also packed with thumbless men who lack enough knowledge, training and backbone to persevere as serious disciples of Christ.

The good news is that the Bible holds the key to showing me how to retain every part of me necessary to run with endurance the race that lies before me. [Heb. 12:1-2]

Because I can’t defend anything effectively unless everything is intact.