Many believers have the attitude that once they are born again they have escaped becoming a target for the enemy, but they have not. To understand this situation, let me have you think on this example for a moment.

When a wild animal is born in the forest, the job of the parents is to protect and feed this newborn creature during every moment of its very early existence. The forest is filled with nourishment as well as predators waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of the carelessness of the parents or the curiousness of the newborn.

Many may say, "It's a jungle out there," but in reality it is just warfare in the day-to-day lifestyle in the animal kingdom. This example graphically depicts the life of the Christian from the spiritual point of view.

Because of Adam's transgression (Gen. 3:17), the world has been cursed, and with it, man and woman, making it in many ways a jungle. Remember, whenever you see the word "curse," you must put into your mind that it means nothing good at all. However, as believers, we are redeemed from that curse by the blood of Jesus.

Christ hath redeemed us (brought us out of and) from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: "for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Gal. 3:13-14).

As a believer, you are no longer under a curse. You are blessed (fortunate, one to be envied).

Jesus Christ became that curse and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. But even though Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, that did not take away the curse for the entire world.

It was only for those living in the world who accept His sacrifice on the cross (tree). This means we must day-in and day-out deal with those of the world still under the influence of the curse, even though we are personally redeemed from the curse of this world.

You and I have been given weapons to win the battle against the enemy in the jungle out there. It's up to us to learn how to deploy the weapons we have been given by God. Where do we discover these spiritual weapons?

In the Bible. Read it today.

Source: Casting Down Imaginations by Donald Shorter, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers