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Christianity Today, June, 2009 |

SERIOUSLY DISTURBED

The Loudest Cheers in Heaven

One day, God's invisible heroes will gain due respect.

Kay Warren | posted 5/28/2009 10:56AM

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How much courage and tenacity does it take to enter this hidden war zone every day when an unseen Enemy is whispering (or shouting), "Let it go; give up! There is no hope for a better tomorrow"?

The loudest cheers in heaven's victory stands may not be reserved for the obvious heroes. They may go instead to the young man who chose to face the crushing disappointments of life, or the person who learned to ignore his Enemy's taunts. The most applause might go to the woman who refused to surrender her joy to the evil forces that never stopped reminding her of her brokenness.

The hidden battles often involve hand-to-hand combat and leave us exhausted. How much more bearable would this daily fight be if we knew we were not alone?

How much could we lighten the load for another just by telling him how brave we think he is? Oh, to be so merciful with fellow soldiers fighting their personal, hidden wars.

Best of all, how much better when we bring undisclosed struggles into community, where victories can be celebrated together, great losses mourned together, and where whoops of encouragement can provide even the most weary soldier the courage it takes to keep on keeping on, one more day.

Related Elsewhere:

Other Christianity Today articles on heaven include:

Finding Heaven | Where is heaven, and how will we experience it before the final resurrection? (April 6, 2005)

The Hope of Heaven | Have Christians forfeited their rightful anticipation of eternity? (June 1, 2003)

Heaven: Not Just an Eternal Day Off | As if anticipating the question, Will life on the new earth be boring? the Bible points to much activity there. (June 1, 2003)

Harleys in Heaven | "What Christians have thought of the afterlife, & what difference it makes now" (June 1, 2003)

Kay Warren's previous Seriously Disturbed columns include:

Needed: More 'Miracles' | My grandchild barely survived birth. Worldwide, too many newborns do not. (December 3, 2008)

The Only Hope for Monsters | We can't defeat evil in the world without facing the evil in ourselves. (October 15, 2008)

Joining the Resistance | It took seeing seven-year-old prostitutes to jolt me out of my apathy. (August 13, 2008)

Talk and Walk | Getting our body in sync with our message. (June 5, 2008)

Wiping out HIV | It's good for the soul to fight the virus. (April 28, 2008)

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June 2009, Vol. 53, No. 6, Page 48

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doranna cooper

Posted: June 04, 2009 7:52 PM

Ephesians 6 does speak of spiritural warfare and to be equiped to be ready to go into battle, which is knowing the Word of God, 2Tim 2:15. Thanks Kay for the great article, we sometimes forget the quiet battles that are being fought all the time and those spiritual battles are very important. Also, we think we must recognize others or to be recognized that we forget that what we are suposed to do is what is pleasing to God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and not for earthly praise. I think we have gone overboard in recognizing every little feat and accomplishment of our children so when they become adults if they do not get praise they will be unable to function.

Steve Skeete

Posted: June 02, 2009 9:25 AM

Paul, writing in response to Alison, says: "The New Testament does not speak with war metaphors or illustrations, except when war is being used as a negative image to portray the killing of "the saints". Maybe Paul spends too much time making negative comment and not enough time reading the actual Bible. If he did, he would realise that his statement contains not one iota of truth. For starters, he needs to check the following New Testament texts: 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4; and 1 Timothy 1:18. In none of these verses is war used as a "negative image to portray the killing of the saints" or anyone else for that matter, but is regarded as struggle, or extreme effort expended in a a noble cause. I would caution Paul not to "rush in", nor use the Bible to support his ideas and notions. One must be fair to the Bible, and say only what it says and not what one wants it to say. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

mariam

Posted: June 01, 2009 2:39 PM


God bless you. this article has really refreshed my heart. i am ready for still more fight on earth, with my Lord standing beside me.

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