We Are Living In A War Zone

   I think a lot of Christians know that they are in a battle, at least they have heard the Scriptures that talk about being in a battle, but did you know we really are IN a battle. Whether we like it or not, we are involved in this battle. Sadly, most of us are just sitting around trying to make the most out of life, when we should be doing spiritual warfare.
  What has triggered my thinking about this has been something I have seen more and more of since I am getting older. I see men and women of God, who really do or did love God, no longer walk with Him or act like they know Him. Before you come to your conclusion about what I am saying, please listen here. I know there really are those who profess to know the Lord, and don't have a clue. There are those who profess to know the Lord, and do appear to have a clue, but it is short lived. These people really might not know the Lord. In fact, most of them probably don't. But what do you do with someone who does know the Lord and then falls into sin?
   "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load." Galatians 6:1-5 ESV
 This passage is talking about a 'brother' who has fallen. How can a brother (or sister) fall though? I thought that when people come to Christ and are new creatures in Christ, that they won't sin anymore. Here's the deal; when a person comes to Christ, the devil is furious. We might not think anything of that, but in reality, the devil is going to try to trip the Christian up. The devil wants him or her to fall. He wants the Christian to be a casualty, or better yet, a 'castaway'. 
   The devil is vicious. There are no words to describe his anger. He tried to dethrone God, and it didn't work. Now he is getting people to be deceived. The worst part about deception is that you don't know you are deceived. Even a secular man or woman can make a decision to never commit adultery, and live up to that decision. When they see someone else commit adultery, they can't understand why anyone would do that. But, the devil will tempt people in areas they will not see. If the person isn't grounded well in the word of God, and if the person is not Spirit filled, he or she could fall. 
   It is like living on a spiritual land mine. Unless you know where the traps are, you could easily fall into one. Why do you think there are stupid arguments and divisions over the Bible? It is because the devil knows that the word of God is a weapon that we can use against him. He doesn't want us to trust in it because he wants to win over us and trip us up. 
   Any of us can fall into a trap, and we probably will at sometime in our lives. If we are trusting in the Lord, He promises to pick us up. "A just man falls seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked will fall into mischief." Proverbs 24:16
   The next time you hear of a Christian brother or sister who has fallen, instead of tearing the person apart, why not pray for him or her? Sure, some of them may not be Christians, and we can take the opportunity to pray for God's mercy on their lives. If they do know the Lord, pray for God's mercy to be on them as well. After all, what if you are the fallen brother or sister? Would you want people to be praying for you?
    "Wherefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

There are spiritual landmines everywhere.