As I look towards writing The Heart of the King – Book 3, I have been praying about and studying spiritual warfare. Despite growing up in a Christian household, rarely was I told about or made aware of the spiritual side of Faith and following Jesus Christ. In fact, the topic was avoided rather deliberately. It wasn’t until much later in life, after I became a Christian, that I began to realize the very real influence exerted on every aspect of my life.
Unfortunately, I realized that I was not alone in this. A whole generation of young Christians are now growing up with the same misconception that a life of Faith is easy. But the Bible is full of references that warn us of Satan and his power and influence in this world. He is constantly trying to make us ineffective, apathetic, disobedient, and unfaithful. He is actively working to defeat us and make us reliant on ourselves through sin, pride, fear, and despair. Why did no one warn me?
I think maybe it started as an attempt to not scare me. Young children might not be a good age to start explaining that evil spirits, who have power, are trying to destroy us. Or perhaps this is the perfect age? Their imagination might exaggerate this dark truth, but could it not also be open to the power of Jesus and the cross? I don’t know the answer. As a father of four young children, I wish I did.
What I do know, is that it is absolutely important to help them see that life as a Christian, while wonderful, satisfying, and full, is not easy. This life is full of sadness, pain, suffering, and death because of sin. Satan and his demons are working to make those things the most significant thing in our hearts, and blind us to the truth that Jesus has already defeated ALL of these things at the Cross. When do I tell them about this spiritual conflict waging war over our souls? I don’t know. But I won’t leave them to discover this on their own, or worse, go through their lives thinking that there is no evil influence constantly attacking us.
Because that truth is important. It is important to know that Satan is trying to make us hate; it is important to know he is trying to make us selfish; it is vital that we know he wants us to deny Jesus; and it is essential that we know Satan wants us to be ineffective. But even more than this, it is important to know that victory is in Jesus. With Him, we have no reason to fear Satan, his demons, or the power that they have in this world. Why? Because the power they have was given them by God. He has more of it than them, and He will never leave us or forsake us.
The Heart of the King has a very muted perspective of this spiritual warfare. The Fiends (demons) are actively trying to destroy the King’s faithful, His chosen, and render them useless or apathetic. I think this is like real life, and hopefully reading the story makes you think about how Satan is trying to ruin your life and make you ineffective. Love to hear what you think!
Exactly! One of the reasons I live HOK! Grew up in the same environment and after several experiences in college and even after, realized the reality of this and the lack of preparation I had in dealing with it. Learned a lot about how calling out to God for help in these experiences makes such an incredible difference than trying g to go it alone.
One of my favorite things about HOK was the glimpse into spiritual warfare also. It is SO overlooked and ignored. I think if Christians could grasp a little of what is actually going on our entire perspectives would change and so would our passion and pursuit.