Victory Over Sin

The other morning, sitting on my porch enjoying some long-awaited sunshine after wintry days, I was aroused to full attention when a couple of fighting sparrows arrived in the yard. I can’t remember ever seeing little birds fight so intensely and for so long. They chirped loudly and clung to each other, rolling on the ground, then rising and attacking again before falling to the ground. This happened over and over, and I wondered whether they would survive. Eventually, they stopped, and one flew off with the other in hot pursuit. I’ve seen dogs fight and also cats in vicious fights.

God never intended His created creatures to fight each other, nor did He intend that they attack humans. The sin of man and woman has destroyed the peace that God instilled in all His creation. We have absolutely nothing to thank the devil for as we look at the condition our world is in, with the suffering of humankind and God’s creatures. Right from the beginning, throughout Bible times, and down through the ages, all the atrocities with their results have been devastating. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, NKJV). It’s encouraging to hold to God’s promises and safely abide in His presence. The great controversy between good and evil besets us constantly.

The evil one is out to destroy those who obey God.

His holy Word constantly warns us of all things we face in life. Oh, how important it is to read His Word faithfully. Every day, our lives are challenged with decisions to do right or wrong. These fights in the mind can be conquered only by the truths of God. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13, NKJV). The Bible warns us in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (NKJV).

So “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (verse 11, NKJV). I’m looking forward to the earth made new, where all the fights of this life will be over. We won’t see little sparrows in conflict with one another again. What peace.

Lyn Welk-Sandy