One of the images that the Bible uses to describe the life that we live is that of a battle.

This battle goes way back. After the fall of the first man and woman into sin, God decreed that there would be enmity between those who follow Him and those who follow the serpent (Gen..3:15).

Even for those who trust in the Lord, the battle remains. The world, the flesh, and the devil present constant perils, and in the face of it God calls us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim.6:12).

Unfortunately, today, many aren’t faring very well in this battle. They are weary and defeated. Instead of advancing in the way that they know God desires, they are immobilized by regret and sin’s dominion over them.

Because of this, it’s a good time to recall that though we are in a battle, God has not left us defenseless. Just as He ordained that we would have to endure a life of struggle, so did He appoint means that would equip us to emerge victorious in the struggle.

It’s often debated whether or not America was founded as a Christian nation. My own belief is that there can be no doubt that it was.

Although the history of early America is not as explicitly Christian as it could have been, it’s evident that those who founded this country shared basic Christian convictions. This is apparent in the structure of our government, the many references to the Bible in our nation’s capitol, and even by the fact that the U.S. Constitution is dated “in the Year of our Lord.”

In one respect, however, the question whether America was founded as a Christian nation is irrelevant. That’s because whether we were founded as a Christian nation or not doesn’t change the fact that we remain accountable to live by God’s standards today.

Those who argue that America was not founded as a Christian nation seem to believe that if they can prove this point, we are somehow no longer obligated to serve the Lord God with our lives. But nothing could be further from the truth, because God has provided the standard for all nations.

To deny this is to be like the like the little child who thinks that if she just covers her eyes her daddy will not see the wrong she is doing.

One way to see that God’s standard of righteousness is universal is that it applied not just to Israel, but to the nations that surrounded her as well.

Just about everyone will grant that Israel was obliged to follow God’s standards. But what about Israel’s unbelieving neighbors? Well, they were accountable to God, too, whether they liked it or not.

When King Solomon began his reign, the Lord approached him and told him to ask for whatever he wished and promised that He would give it to him. What did Solomon ask for? He asked for wisdom (1 Kings 3).

Good choice.

There are a lot of things you may want to ask for in life – money, a job, good health, a spouse – but wisdom tops them all. If you have wisdom, you are in a position to manage whatever comes your way. But if you lack wisdom, whatever desirable thing you do have will easily be misused and bring you harm.

You don’t have to be a king for this to come into play. Though you do not rule over an earthly kingdom as Solomon did, you do need to govern your own life with all its choices. And you will give an account for your contribution to God’s kingdom. All this requires wisdom.

When people feel hopeless and powerless regarding their situation in life, there are those among them that will begin thinking that maybe suicide is the answer. It’s not.

Those who contemplate suicide believe that it may provide a way of escape from their misery. They usually think this is so because they have adopted at least one of a number of false assumptions. For this reason, anyone who gives suicide consideration needs to think carefully about their assumptions.

One common assumption that a person considering suicide can make is that God will understand this solution to their problems. But the sixth commandment tells us that we shall not murder, and this includes self-murder. God is the one who numbers our days, and in the days he gives us we are to cultivate our lives as we seek Him and trust Him through every trial.

Yesterday, I was in the office of our local newspaper and while I was waiting I looked at some of the old newspapers posted on the wall. One of them, dated August 21st, 1868, had a list of sayings that readers were encouraged to review every day,

One of these was, I thought, especially good. It read, “Your character cannot be essentially injured except by your own acts.”

Ponder that quote a bit and let it sink in. If the point being made here is true – and I believe it is – it should affect our lives in a number of ways.

First, it should cause you to be much less apt to blame others for what’s wrong with your life. How quick we can be to fault others with what’s amiss in our lives. As the Bible teaches us, we need to pay more attention to the log that is in our own eye than the speck that’s in our brothers (Mt.7:3,4).

Relationships are a part of everyone’s life. Ideally, our relationships are to be enriching, but too often we find them trying. Sometimes we even find ourselves estranged from those we were once close to.

Coming to terms with our relationships is essential if we hope to function effectively on a day to day basis. Too often people are so consumed with a poor relationship that they can scarcely give thought or energy to anything else.

The biblical account of Jacob and Esau gives some worthwhile principles when it comes to relationships – especially those that have gone cold (Gen.33).

The first of these principles is to give priority to God in one’s relationships.

Everybody has struggles. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you have, or what you’ve accomplished in life, you have difficulties you must face.

Usually, we think about our struggles in terms of our circumstances. “If this situation would only improve,” we think, “then I’d be relieved of this struggle.”

Surely, our circumstances do affect us, in a big way. But far more important is what’s going on inside us, especially concerning our relationship with God. In fact, it could be said that our greatest struggle is not any particular problem we face – no matter how great it is – but how we are coming to terms with God’s claim on our lives.

This is the message that comes through from the Bible’s story about Jacob’s wresting match with God (Gen.32).

There a few days on the calendar that usually pass by without notice that really deserve recognition. One of these is Ascension Day.

The Day of Ascension is the 40th day after Easter, and it marks the time when Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, the position from which He reigns today. As the Bible puts it, “He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet” (Heb.10:12,13).

This year Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 21st.

So, why is Ascension Day worthy of recognition? It’s worthy of recognition because it reminds us that there is a King who rules over all things, including all earthly powers.

There are many ways that God has made Himself known to us. He has revealed Himself in creation, in His Word, and even within the conscience of every human being.

Another way that it is clear that God is in our midst is through the presence of shame among mankind. This may seem a little surprising, until you give it some thought.

Shame is an experience shared by people in all cultures. Even by those that are not particularly religious. Why is this? It’s because all mankind is made in God’s image, and this fact cannot be escaped.

When we turn to the Bible we find that shame is an important theme.

The Bible tells us that when the first man and woman were created they were naked and unashamed. They had nothing to hide. But when they failed to trust God and disobeyed Him, their shame led them to do what they could to cover themselves.

Throughout the rest of the Bible the theme of shame continues.

A prevailing theme given to us in the Bible is that God intends to bring blessing to people. This is a revolutionary thought for those who conceive of God as nothing more than a cosmic killjoy. But it’s true. God created a world of abundance to bring blessing to all mankind.

When God made the first man and woman, it was in His mind to bless them and all their offspring. And to Abraham was given the promise that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen.12:3).

This promise applies to us even today. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it was proclaimed that God had raised up this Servant and sent Him in order to bless (Acts 3:26). And those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to promise (Gal.3:29).

Throughout the Bible – and history – we find that God has been faithful to His promise. He indeed has blessed. And He still intends to bless.