![[Photo of a Scripture verse]](https://www.deankwilson.com/Blog_images/2_Corinthians_10_3-5.jpg)
| “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” |
| —2 Corinthians 10:3-5 |
Several popular television programs feature the S.W.A.T. team of various real or fictional police departments. Most of you realize that “S.W.A.T.” is an acronym for “Special Weapons and Tactics.” These highly trained police officers are equipped with an unusual array of weapons, along with the special tactics to use them in the most critical of situations.
Just as a tradesman may have tools available to him or her that an ordinary individual might not, so the S.W.A.T. team has weapons, tools, training, and tactics available that ordinary police officers would not have. The S.W.A.T. team can handle a wide variety of critical incidents in the most efficient and effective manner.
I remember during my time at Houghton College in the mid-1960s, where, in addition to being a student, I was also a member of the College’s staff, serving as Director of Auditorium Operations for the John and Charles Wesley Memorial Chapel-Auditorium. I worked closely with a number of the members of the College’s maintenance staff. On one occasion, one of the College’s mechanics was expressing delight that another mechanic had acquired a wide variety of special tools to make his job easier. “He even owns a steering wheel puller,” my friend remarked with amazement.
Now, I had no idea what a steering wheel puller looked like. But, from its name, I could image what it did. Up to that moment, I had never thought about how difficult it might be to remove a steering wheel in a vehicle without such a specialized tool. My mechanic friend explained how very difficult it was to keep an even pulling pressure on a steering wheel without the specialized tool.
In our spiritual lives, we are in a constant battle against sin and Satan. Our enemy wants to destroy us by luring us into patterns that become besetting sins. We must fight against Satan’s clever wiles. To do so, God has given us spiritual tools—just the right ones—to win the battle against pervasive evil. The Apostle Paul makes this very point in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Just think about that for a moment: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” That is a truly powerful statement. It indicates how specialized the tools of battle that God has given us. Why these tools even surpass the ones used by the most highly trained S.W.A.T. team.
As we begin a new day, let’s focus on the tools that God has given us to defeat our enemy. Let’s apply those tools whenever we find ourselves tempted to pursue sin. And, let’s claim victory in the name of Jesus. After all, He is the One who has conquered sin, death, and Satan. And, He did so in our behalf.
