By Pastor Teddy Joseph
One hundred and four years ago from November 11, 2022, guns fell silent across all of Europe.
At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month—the Great War, the most destructive war in human history to that point, finally came to an end as a negotiated armistice went into effect.
Armistice Day eventually came to be called Remembrance Day in Canada. This day is to commemorate those who have fallen before us. It’s to commemorate the bravery of these young men, who sacrificed themselves for this country and the freedom that it provides. WWI was a fierce war that took millions of lives, civilians and soldiers alike.
Yet among these sacrifices, victory was won and the liberty to live followed after. We must remember those who have fallen before us.
However, we still see and hear of skirmishes, battles and wars going around in the world. And though we hear about and see them on TV, there is another type of war that is waging on a global scale. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are involved in it and it is one that will determine our final destination no matter which side we choose. There are only two sides; no one can be on both sides and no one can be neutral in this type of warfare, for we all have a choice to make.
As Ephesians 6:12 points out, we are involved in a spiritual warfare and our common enemy is against rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. It’s not a warfare where we can physically arm ourselves and barricade our homes against an assault. It exists outside of our physical realm. The only way to fight this spiritual battle daily, is to put on the whole armor of God. That is the only way we can fight against Satan, and his plans to destroy mankind on earth. The whole armor of God and every piece mentioned in Ephesians 6:14-17 represents Jesus Christ. It represents how Christ came before us and fought a war against Satan by using the scriptures as a weapon. It represents how Jesus Christ, for the love of mankind, sacrificed Himself on the cross and resurrected, so mankind may have victory over sin and have access to eternal life. It represents how Christ needs to dwell within the believer that they may cooperate with, trust and depend on Him to fight against temptation, addictions and other life struggles.
There are times when this spiritual battle needs to be fought on our knees. Praying and talking to God, our supreme Commander, already knows the outcome and can guide our steps so we may win our daily battle. But this battle is a serious one and only serious people in their walk with Christ will survive.
Remember those who have fallen. Soldiers sacrificed their lives for their country.
Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for the world. Let us take our Christianity seriously for without Christ we are nothing. Remember that the soldiers fought in the war that we may have freedom of life. Remember that Jesus fought in the war so we may have freedom from sin and eternal life.
As Remembrance Day has a moment of silence for 2 minutes at 11 am as a remembrance of all those who have fallen before us, let us each day take a thoughtful hour of Christ’s last scenes on earth knowing that He has won the war and is able to give us the victory in our own battles till He comes again.
Teddy Joseph is the pastor at the Stettler and Sedgewick Seventh-day Adventist Church.