When I was a young man, I traveled in typical circles with other young men, of course. And, as is common among such youth, we touted a mutual response for when threatened with a beating by the local tyrant-tormenter. The reply to his taunt of “I’m going to whip your a**!” invariably promised to be…
“Yeah, sure. You and whose army?!”
Blustering bravado in a taunt-for-taunt reflex is a foundational stone on the path to becoming a real man on another day somewhere down the road of time. Eventually, though, you realize that fists lead to pain, and that pain to punishment by layers of real authority – from parents to schoolmasters to police and eventually the long, slow torture of the legal system. My learning curve, therefore, led me down the path of peace and prosperity as the improved road well-traveled.
On that day, the Reality Angel showed up, tapped me with her magic wand, sprinkled me with unicorn fuzz, and I had a real epiphany. All that testosterone is better spent on other pursuits that are no less risky – but far more pleasant. So, all those youthful taunts, sayings, and empty threats were tossed in the overflowing waste bin of other useless trash and baggage best left behind and exchanged for far better rewards.
And then, years now into domestic life, that very same Reality Angel unexpectedly appeared to me once more, sans the glittering wand. Her name was “Wisdom,” and instead of a wand, she carried the Word of Life in her hand. At the end of her visit, there was no shower of unicorn fuzz. Instead, I received a powerful piece of her permanent insight when she left me with the following introduction to a most extraordinary mindset that fully replaced my youthful angst:
“How blessed is the man who finds Wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.” (Proverbs 3:13-18)
Through immersion in the Word, I discovered that as a grown adult and Templar Knight with children and grandchildren, I could always rely upon a new and accurate favorite repartee fragment in my later life. And I desperately need to draw on God’s promise to defend against the ever-present foe who has relentlessly followed me from my youth.
To this day, the enemy continues his intimidation and inevitable daily attacks against me and my family. But with God’s Word hidden in my heart and always on hand, I can say with all honesty – and Someone alongside me to actually back it up –
“Yeah, sure. You and whose army?!”
The authority for this reply is powerfully established by the prophet Jeremiah when he said, “But the Lord is with me like a Dread Champion; therefore, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 20:11)
This wisdom from the Word is life-changing to me – as a husband, father, grandfather, Templar Prior, and a faithful friend of many.
It is useful every day, day after day, especially as a Templar on the Battlefields of Life. I recognize after decades of living, that my purpose and meaning in life is to love flesh and blood people and love and pray for my human enemies, who were created just like me.
Unlike Jeremiah, I am commanded by my Lord Master not to hate or pray for the destruction of those who persecute, attack, and torture me day by day. Instead, I am to indiscriminately love them all – everyone with a pulse – and pray for all of them, every one of them, to receive the exact same unlimited blessings that have been poured out in my life in “good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:38)
So then, who is left to receive the taunt, “Yeah, sure. You and whose army?!”
Has not the Word of Life clearly informed me, that my “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”? (Ephesians 6:12)
As a Templar Knight and Officer, I am not here to leverage any revenge on the hapless Satanic minions who surround me. Instead, I save my wrath, my taunts, and my warfare for the rulers, the powers, and the world forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
And I know how to do this.
I have been trained up by the Word of Life and the supernatural indwelling Holy Spirit of Grace. I am well equipped and know the daily plan as it is revealed to me each morning when I arise from my time in the Holy Word of God. I can confidently go out on the Spiritual Battlefields of life each and every day, armed with the presence of Wisdom’s full measure of grace, completely prepared for the inevitable battle.
Each day, as I step out on the dusty fields of honor and sacrifice – on that sacred ground that I will one day not leave alive – I see it all arrayed before me. Every day. The greater reality of it all. The vast army of my spiritual enemies face me there – all of them out to destroy me and take from me the joy of living, members of my family… and even my life.
They are always there facing me – the rulers, the powers, the world forces of this darkness, the spiritual forces of wickedness from the heavenly places – all of them with one purpose: to destroy me, to destroy my witness, and remove my place in the line of the defenses of the Great Kingdom of Light.
And it is on that daily battlefield that I say with defiance, “Yeah, sure. You and whose army?!”
For each day I remember the words of the young shepherd boy David to the entire assembled army of God’s people arrayed against a single giant when he said, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”
And still, even in 2025, there is never an answer from these demonic forces.
Ever.
Because within me and beside me, as the psalmist promises, “The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them.” (Psalm 34:7)
The demonic forces never answer me because, while they may be annoyed at my size and relative powerlessness, they know that my Lord is always, always with me like a Dread Champion. Every day. Every moment. Every battle. Every breath. Until the last one out there on that field of honor and sacrifice.
And I pray that I close my eyes for the last time out on that battlefield, for I do not desire to pass from this world into the next on any other field. It will be in total victory, God’s victory, the ultimate end of His calling, and my assigned duty. I will be summoned back home by my Dread Champion who will indeed accompany me across the infinite void.
And from the spiritual battlefield, I will be removed upon my shield.
I pray that I will be satisfied that I did my best, gave my all, and that the massive army arrayed against me was held in check day after day by my reliance on the promise of my Captain of the Lord’s Army:
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the One Who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Frankly, that will be a glorious day that I anticipate with great, great joy!