Reality

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

The cautionary tone of this passage in Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus provides an overarching principle in how I view the world around me. When I understood and comprehended what Paul was writing about, my view of humanity and its many struggles changed forever. No longer did I view those who I interacted with as the enemy, but as fellow warriors, survivors, and comrades. My worldview has been shaped in significant ways since the Holy Spirit revealed the truth found within this verse. Through careful meditation and introspective thought, I arrived at the conclusion that what Paul was referring to was a way to view life, to view our fellow human beings, and, most important, their behavior.

This paper will explore and unpack Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians and how this single verse has provided me with the framework to build a solid worldview, one replete with the spiritual necessity to view human beings as creatures who are influenced by two eternities, one hell-bent on our destruction, the other deeply concerned with our eternal life. The paper is divided into two sections, the first discussing the nature of man and how it relates to my worldview, and the second which deals with God’s sovereignty, our freedom of choice, and the role and purpose of suffering.

In this first section, let’s look into what constitutes good and bad, and how these affect my human nature. I believe that the human body “is not,” as Dr. Jones states it, “intrinsically evil” (16). An illustration I use often is that of a handgun being considered evil or bad. A handgun resting on a table without ammunition inside is not evil. The person who picks it up, shoots another in cold-blooded murder has perpetrated an evil act. But again, the handgun is not the issue, but rather the condition of the heart of the shooter. I think Paul was warning his church members not to engage an enemy who is crafty, cunning, and does not care a lick about creatures created in God’s image, except to see them perish. The essential nature of human beings, then, is one in which these influencers are kept at bay, kept away by an outside, more powerful force, Who has sovereignty over all the entities involved. The first nine words of the verse point to a reality where all human behavior is understood and ultimately forgiven. Sound familiar? Yes, this is the same line of reasoning employed by Jesus when He taught on forgiveness. Our enemies are not each other, but rather an outside force, the enemy, who influences people to follow after him and have all they want. This wasn’t true in the Garden of Eden, and it’s not true now. Adam and Eve were given a choice by God, and they chose to relinquish their rights in the garden. The same is true for us now. We are given choices by God each and every day, choices that lead to our benefit and others that don’t.

As my worldview has evolved over the years since becoming born again, the verse from Ephesians quoted at the beginning of this paper remains the best describer of how I view and interpret the world around me. Time and time again, my interpretation of events, both personal and corporate, has used that verse as a filter through which Truth is gleaned. Without the Word of God, my worldview would be flawed, prone to the death and decay prevalent in the world today. Upon conversion, my view of the world changed, akin to the metamorphosis a worm experiences as it transforms into a butterfly. As my spiritual growth has progressed, my view of humanity has changed to align with God’s Word, as well as my view of time and space, the formation of the universe, and how I as a finite individual relates to my infinite God. Having experienced the bondage of being lost in my sin for many years and well into adulthood, memories of my “old man” persist. Paul’s writings on this subject in Romans and his epistles have facilitated a hunger within me to delve deeper into the reality of Truth found in the Bible and how to apply it in my daily life. Accepting life at face value is a tragedy I’m unwilling to engage in, one that would return me to my previous, dead state. Reading books that have enlightened me and provided more depth to life, books that have challenged my worldview, thereby strengthening it, have proven to be invaluable in my intentional personal growth. One of these books is The Universe Next Door, a comprehensive guide to several major worldviews, authored by James W. Sire. He poses seven basic questions that must be answered in a worldview in order for it to be considered as such. I will answer two of them in the next section according to my biblical world view, filtering them through Ephesians 6:12.

To get things started, the two questions are: what is a human being and what is the meaning of human history? Talk about two whoppers! My answer to the first question is contained in three spheres: body, mind, and spirit. All of these are entwined and inseparable, and each must have the other to exist. To qualify as a human being, all three must be accounted for and must be provable. How do we prove a human being has a spirit? The other two are quantifiable; however, the spirit remains hidden from view with no discernable proof of its existence. According to Paul’s letter, we are not warring with flesh and blood, but with spiritual beings. Comprehending these few words, then, leads me to conclude that I, too, possess a spirit being. Recalling the previous section, my body is not inherently evil and neither is my mind or spirit. Evil may suggest that I perform an evil act or think an evil thought. This is known as temptation, something I find deplorable, yet do not fully understand its purpose. That’s God’s business, I suppose. The three spheres that compose my humanness, then, are in a constant battle with evil spirits, which attempt to influence my behavior, my thoughts, and my heart. When this revelation became clear to me, dealing with difficult people and those who are not believers became less strenuous. They are simply under the influence of an eternal kingdom of darkness, stumbling around in the dark, groping for meaning in life. When God turns the light on through His Son, Jesus the Christ, the entire world comes into view. The Bible becomes a necessary part of life and is no longer foolishness, people are viewed in a different way, and life takes on meaning. This is what happened to me when I finally understood what it means to be a human being created in God’s image and for His purpose. The second question has led me to ponder, meditate, and harvest the deeper truths found in God’s Word in order to answer it in a way that conforms to my worldview.

The answer is simple, yet immeasurable. The purpose of human history is God’s purpose and only He knows its ultimate point. Not to simply state this in an attempt to skirt further discussion, I’ll support my answer with the following expose. Imagine for a moment that you are standing next to God Almighty, Creator of the universe, and you ask Him what is the purpose of human life and history. He is the only One who can definitively answer this query, the only One privy to all knowledge, and the only One who should be asked. By having a relationship with Him through my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, I trust that human history does have a purpose and that He knows what it is. My understanding of human history is limited to my own life and the events and people who have formed my little slice of history.

As for purpose, my life provides me a way to see God at work, to understand His sovereignty, and to understand how suffering has produced my character and personal traits. Acknowledging God’s existence is key to understanding why things happen as they do, why I’ve experienced what I have, and why I had to endure pain and suffering. Without this knowledge, my time on earth would be futile and without meaning. God works in mysterious ways, but in ways that are easily discernable as His hands at work. When things do not make sense logically, I see that as a calling card of God. When I endure great pain and suffering, I see God at work in my life to produce something in which His greatest purpose will be served and in which my greatest benefit will be realized. The purpose of my human history is to reveal God at work and I believe this holds true on the larger scale of humanity’s history. It also reveals His sovereignty, and His grace to allow me freedom of choice. Though I may choose poorly and suffer the consequences, I know beyond all doubt that His purpose is being served and that my development is being continued. I have meditated on this subject for several years and found great solace in understanding how choice has set me free and has provided safety and security.

God truly is my Father in heaven, Who watches over me, and treats me as His son. As a dad, I know the priceless value in giving my son freedom of choice and allowing him to realize how his choices affect him, good or bad. My development is no different in the eyes of God. By understanding my place in His Kingdom as one of His sons, I know that He cares for me and desires His best for me. I’m content in the knowledge of His sovereignty over my life and how it plays out in my daily life. Liberty at any cost has already been paid through Christ’s death and resurrection, setting all who believe in Him free for all eternity. To understand how very free I am, looking back over my life has provided insight into a man who used to be bound to his own lusts and desires, a blind man who fumbled about, looking for purpose and meaning. This exercise has also produced a deep gratitude for His providence and omniscience in my life since accepting His free provision of life eternal. By accepting His purpose for my life and aligning myself with this purpose, my freedom has increased and I now know what it means to be truly free. How does all of this contribute to my formation as a human being and how does all of this have purpose?

Purpose gives me a reason for my existence. Knowing the purpose for my life and following Christ has given me more peace and contentment than anything the world has to offer. By possessing a solid worldview based on Scripture, my dealings in this life make sense, people’s actions and words are revealed for their true nature, and my time on this earth has meaning. Having possessed a worldview devoid of Truth, I attest to the wonderful reality of God’s grace and mercy. My time in the world has served me well in determining who I am, where I have been, and where I am going, all of which is possible only with God’s help. All things in the universe have a purpose and a function. Not realizing this constitutes a life devoid of purpose. An all too common fate, I freely choose to live life according to God’s Word. This decision brings true freedom and endless choices.