War is not something that one would call “good.” Lives are lost, countries are destroyed and there’s nothing good about that. But, the Second World War is often referred to as “the good war.” The words “war” and “good” just seem incongruous, don’t they? But, look at what was accomplished as a result of World War II. By the end of the war, the Allied forces had defeated Hitler and the Third Reich and put an end to the atrocities that regime had inflicted. Hitler’s regime was prevented from dominating Europe. So, despite the fact that many lives were lost, there was “good” in World War II.
As believers, we are in a war and, just like the Second World War, it is a good one. This war that we are fighting is the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). In this fight, we must remain faithful to God and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must hold on to our faith even in the face of opposition. That opposition can be from the world or it can be from the spiritual realm, where our enemy is always seeking to destroy us by destroying our faith (1 Peter 5:8).
To fight the good fight of faith when the opposition comes from the world, we need to flee the things of the world and the things of the flesh. We need to pursue such virtues as righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11). In the face of opposition from the world, these things will help us to keep our eyes and hearts focused on the victory, the prize of eternal life.
To fight the good fight of faith when the opposition is from the spiritual realm, we need to be strong in the Lord and to put on the armor that God has provided. We need to put on the belt of truth, don the breastplate of righteousness, fit our feet with the gospel of peace, and cover our head with the helmet of salvation. We need to take up the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery darts that our enemy throws at us. And, most importantly, we need to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
When we fight the good fight of faith, using the weapons that God has given us, we can be sure that evil will be overcome and our enemy will be defeated, just as it was in “the good war.”
A Worshiper's Journal 