See the Spiritual Forces at Work

Paul Harvey was a master storyteller known for giving his radio audience a peek behind the scenes at the “mysteries of history.” For over half a century, his even-toned, folksy voice revealed the lesser-known side of famous people and important events. Mr. Harvey closed each broadcast with the words, “And now you know … the rest of the story.” But Scripture tells us about another side of history, too — a spiritual realm we can only see through the eyes of faith.

We’re moving on from discussing integrity in our Cross Training journey, to another Christlike quality — watchfulness. Watchfulness comes when we’re spiritually aware, living with readiness, resisting the devil, and full of wisdom. So, what do we need to know about the spiritual realities that define the rest of our story?

What You Need to Know

Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, got up early one morning, went outside, and discovered an army of horses and chariots surrounding the city, bent on seizing Elisha. Terrified, he asked his master what they should do, and Elisha told him not to fear, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Then Elisha prayed for him, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see” and suddenly he saw a mountain “full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

When we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), we live with an awareness of things we can’t easily see. We can pull back the curtain and see the true power of light and the real face of darkness. We aren’t ignorant of the schemes of our adversary (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8), realizing that the battle isn’t “against flesh and blood, but against … the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). We know that God’s angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). And that our Lord Jesus is with us always (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5-8).

Even when you can’t see his hand, God is present in your life, working all things together for good to those who love him (Rom. 8:28). Remember Joseph’s words as he looked back on his life’s struggles? Others may have meant it for evil, but God had his purposes (Gen. 50:20). He worked through their choices, placing Joseph in a position to save multitudes. Like Joseph, we’ll never have all the answers, but faith helps us see that there are answers because there is — without a doubt — someone working our story towards a good end.

What You Need to Do

Look beneath the surface. Sometimes there’s more at work than what seems immediately apparent. The hand of God, the devil’s schemes, and the things that matter most aren’t the things most people spend their days thinking about. But everything is exposed to the light for the believer — so wake up, and let us walk circumspectly, for the days are evil (Eph. 5:13-17).

Remind others of the spiritual realities that we all so easily forget. Try to give perspective and encouragement when others get weighed down, distracted, or lost in the “cares of the world” (Mark 4:19). Be patient with those who can’t yet see, understanding “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). Christians trained to see the spiritual wounds beneath a troubled person’s attitude can better meet their actual needs.

Build spiritual “reality checks” into your day. For example, when hiking, it’s helpful to check your map occasionally, and climb up to a higher vista when you can, so that you can see where you are and where you’re going. We need those check-ins every day, the spiritual vistas that let us see the big picture beyond our bills, to-do lists, and the daily drama of life. We can find that perspective in prayer (Eph. 6:18), in meditation on God’s Word (Psalm 1), in conversation and worship with other believers (Acts 2:42-47), and in acts of service to others that we offer to God as a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:16).

Through the Week

  • Read — John 18:33-40; 1 Thess. 5:4-11; Eph. 1:15-23; 5:6-17; Rev. 1:4-21
  • Reflect — Ask yourself, “What can I see happening in my life, through the eyes of faith?”
  • Request — Pray, “O Father of Glory, enlighten the eyes of my heart” (cf. Eph. 1:17-19).
  • Respond — Listen for spiritual needs in your interactions, remembering the eternal spirit in each person.
  • Reach Out — Ask someone, “Is there an event in your life you saw one way at the moment but later saw more of the story?”