Victory

The term “parting shot,” to give someone a final riposte in an argument while departing, originated with ancient Iranian (Parthian) fast, light horsemen who would turn and shoot backward toward pursuing cavalry to lure them into an ambush of waiting heavy cavalry...a “Parthian shot.” Historians still debate as to who first used them but it is the simple invention of the stirrup that gave the armies of Genghis Khan, the Avars, Sarmatians, Scythians and Attila’s Huns the advantage in their conquests.

Throughout history, similar basic advances such as the Greek phalanx (and its Roman “testudo” derivative) and the code-breakers in England’s Bletchley Park during World War II, have respectively been greater and lesser known deciding factors in the fates of nations and empires at war.

Though many may be familiar with the downfall of Jericho’s walls via the Israelites’ trumpets, the drowning of Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea and David’s slaying of Goliath with a stone from a sling, the battle each Christian faces since the time of Jesus is never one of worldly conquest, much less to “defeat” our fellow man. In fact it is in every way the complete opposite.

The victory over sin, death and the devil himself has already been won with Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Instead, God tells us that our struggle is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In other words, it is a spiritual battle.

For this battle, God has prepared us: our mid-section armored by truth, a breastplate of righteousness and our feet with the Gospel of peace. Furthermore, we are given the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit...God’s Word itself.

The one area that stands out by not being protected is our backs, which in itself says much as to who we are to be and how we are to fight this battle. Not by conciliation, retreat or cowardice, but by the singular boldness and strength of Christ Jesus. He won our salvation not by force but by His selfless love, sacrifice and complete submission to His Father’s will.

Far and away the most difficult battle we face is within. An interesting quote is found in the 1970’s comic strip “Pogo” where the lead character remarked, “We have met the enemy and they are us,” which arguably echoes St. Paul’s words: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

We all face internal battles, be they addictions, desires, depression, shortcomings, regrets, etc. The greatest weapon against these, which all relate back to the spiritual, is not through our own means, nor through force. Instead, the true victory is as His own was...the simple and complete surrendering of ourselves to Our Lord.