Hang On to Christ

1 Peter 5:10

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ
Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and
strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
(1 Peter 5:10)

Will there be suffering in resisting Satan? Yes. Will it be painful? Without a doubt. I have found that there are times we emerge from a battle a little shell-shocked. But after the dust settles, our Commander-in-Chief will pin medals of honour on our lapels.

He will “perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish” us. Talk about hope beyond the battle! Here is the biblical portrait of a decorated war hero, a seasoned veteran from the ranks of the righteous whose muscles of faith have been hardened by battle. It is the portrait of a well-grounded, stable, mature Christian. Christ will make sure the portrait of our lives looks like that, for He himself will hold the brush. And His hand is vastly more powerful than our enemy’s.

I remember one night when I was taking care of a couple of our grandchildren. We were laughing, messing around, and having a great time together when we suddenly heard a knock at the door. Not the doorbell, but a mysterious knocking. Immediately one of my grandsons grabbed hold of my arm. “It’s ok,” I said. The knock came again, and I started to the door. My grandson followed me, but he hung onto my left leg and hid behind me as I opened the door. It was one of my son’s friends who had dropped by unexpectedly. After the person had left and I’d closed the door, my grandson, still holding on to my leg, said in a strong voice. “Bubba, we don’t have anything to worry about, do we?” And I said, “No, we don’t have anything to worry about. Everything’s fine.” You know why he was strong? Because he was hanging on to protection. As long as he was clinging to his grandfather’s leg, he didn’t have to worry about a thing.

That happens to us when we face the enemy. When he knocks at the door or when he prowls around back or when he looks for the chink in your armour, you hang on to Christ. You stand firm in faith. You put on the “armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11–20—please read it!). You have nothing to worry about. Nothing. For, as Peter reminds us, our Lord has “dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:11 NASB). He is the one ultimately in control, and that is something in which every believer can find strength to hope again.