Soldiers of Christ

With this being Memorial Day weekend in the United States, I want first to say "Thank You" to all those who have served our country and paid the sacrifice for our freedom here.
In my searching the scriptures this morning, I looked up the word soldier, and came across 2 Timothy, 3: 1 - 7. It's speaking of the caution for a solider of Christ, especially in the last days. In yesterday's blog, I mentioned some of the things foretold that would be present in the last days, and this is going right along those same lines.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness, but denying its power. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded with with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth".
All one has to do is turn on the television or open a newspaper. We hear of shootings in schools, rape and molestation of chilren, murder is on the rise at an undaunting speed; our news shows more about the goings on in Hollywood and the outrageous behavior of "stars" more than it is actual news of importance.
We have to follow Ephesians chapter 6 and put on the armour of God, for it says, "we don't wrestle with flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness". All these things mentioned in 2 Timothy are controlled by those powers - we are born with the sin nature in us, and as satan is rapidly losing time, he is moving as fiercly and slyly as he can to make sure he can get as many as possible to follow his ways of darkness. He can and will use those in high positions and noteriety to use smooth speech, those "having a form of godliness, but denying its power", to lead people away from the truth. He is the master manipulator, and we have to be constantly in prayer to receive the mighty power of God to stand against those who would seek to deceive; they target those who are searching for God - the weak and vulnerable ones who need strong soldiers of Christ to intercede for them, as well as point them in the right direction towards the knowledge of the truth.
I close with this: "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power". Ephesians 6:10

Janelle