As Templars, we have been thoroughly trained by God’s Word to know how to enter and manage the spiritual warfare of life. It is our oath and calling to stand out here on the Battlefield every day and participate. As 21st century Templars, this is our daily job description as explained in God’s own Words:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our 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.
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:10-16)
Just like the Templar of antiquity, we modern Templars awake each morning with this standing order from the Captain of the Lord’s Army stated by Paul: “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3)
So how do we accomplish all this and at the same time still lead responsible, complex, and equally dedicated lives out in the non-spiritual world?
Here is the straightforward and easy to understand answer:
“By faith in the Object of our faith, Who is the Captain of the Lord’s Army, Jesus.”
But the real question is – do we actually have enough faith to know what to do with the half-second we are allotted when the sword we are directly facing has an appointment with our heart?
If we are truthful to ourselves, each one of us certainly knows that the answer to that specific question can often be very, very iffy.
Just how do we truly respond deep inside when the doctor brings bad news about us or our closest loved ones, or the officer knocks on our door at 2:00 AM, or the phone rings just after midnight? At those moments, we can clearly see that cold, flashing sword headed toward us with a real appointment for our hearts. What happens at that split second to all that faith we thought we possessed?
It is at that very moment that the personal battlefields of life suddenly become very real along with real swords and real hearts. How does our faith in the Object of our faith stand up when these events invariably transpire in our lives?
A quite unusual example of the answer to that question is discovered from the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:20:
“For where two or three have gathered together in My Name, I am there in their midst.”
This promise is a favorite of mine, and I repeat it often whenever I teach the Word. I state it regularly because it is a vital signpost that reminds me as a teacher of God’s Word of true, authentic faith in my own life as a believer.
I always remind myself that this pledge is not just a platitude for someone with weak or non-existent faith, but it is a sure and certain promise of action on our behalf from the only One Who can actually empower and spiritually authenticate any meeting in His Holy Name by actually showing up and literally attending!
After mouthing those words, I always act in full faith to see if I can perceive Christ revealing Himself to me in those sacred places of worship, if even for a split second. And then I look at those facing me to see if anyone else is also looking around for Jesus.
In these past decades, not once has the Savior physically revealed Himself to me. And at the same time, not once have I spotted anyone else looking around for the King.
Disappointed? Never! For this same Jesus said to “doubting” Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed.” (John 20:29b)
Still, I will never stop looking. Ever. God knows I am stubborn like that. And perhaps one day I will actually meet another believer who is also looking around for their Lord Master!
You see, beloved Templar, our journey of amazing faith is quite extraordinary and supernaturally enjoined to the Eternal Kingdom of God. While each of us walk along our individual pilgrim’s pathway to Zion obscured by the fog of time and circumstance, we have been given an extraordinary “measure of faith” (Romans 12:3) that acts as our radar, cutting through all that haze.
That measure of faith clearly illuminates the sword headed toward our hearts. That measure of faith alters time and permits us to go to our Lord Master and receive yet another measure of faith to step away from that two-edged instrument of destruction and receive His strength to engage in the battle with a clear head and a steady mind.
But like every other Templar activity (and there are no exceptions to this), this is a spiritual discipline that is never just granted. It comes through much preparation and considerable groundwork before the battle. This discipline is earned by countless hours of daily Spirit-led study in God’s Word, and by ceaseless prayer – both of these clearly commanded to each one of us as Standing Orders in the Night Watch Logbook of every believer and every Templar life.
However prepared you and I may be, we both know for certain that the sword with our name engraved on its merciless steel is eventually approaching – and it will be aimed directly at our hearts. Some think of the Templar’s Spiritual Battlefield as only a fairy tale. But it is far more real than what mere human eyes can see, and infinitely greater than mere individual conviction.
It is eternal and even more vast than all we can view on any starlit night. And no one – no one – can escape its inevitable appearance overlaid on what we think of as “reality.” One day, we will not gird our loins and go out the Battlefield. The Battlefield will come to each of us, whether we are ready or not – and come it will.
The question is this: will you be prepared for it, beloved Templar? Will you have spent your past days working for this moment by always showing up on its field of honor as commanded? Will each sunrise find you out there on that field fighting for the Great Holy Kingdom and for the many, many others who are lost out there, fearful and searching for the way out – these who so very desperately need your sword?
Yet, whether you go out to the Battlefield or whether it comes to you, beloved Templar, when you arrive, and you see the bright and inevitable sword coming for your heart, ask yourself this…
…will you be the one who looks around to find Jesus –
just because He has promised to always be there?