Jerusalem, Israel

3:15 am, April 13

I sat up in bed to a wailing sound I had never heard before, but knew immediately: an air raid siren. Our building rattled to the booms of interceptors from Israel’s missile defense system hitting their inbound targets. I pulled back the curtains and watched as sprays of light streaked the sky.

Iran launched 170 drones, 20 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel’s purported attack on an Iranian embassy in Syria. By God’s grace and the effective response of the Israeli, US, and Jordanian Air Forces, along with Israel’s formidable defense system, only two of the missiles struck Israeli turf. Iran’s attack brings to the forefront a tension that has been present between Israel and Iran for years. It is no secret that Iran has funded Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist organizations committed to eliminating Israel.

This was my first experience of being in the crosshairs of an international conflict. Like most Americans, I have never experienced war first-hand. The headlines of war are remote: something that happens to other people.

I am grateful to live in a country without the imminent threat of war. I’m thankful I have never heard the boom of anti-missile artillery before. But I wonder if there is something that those of us who live without the looming threat of war miss out on. Consider Paul's reminder that we are in a spiritual battle, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:11-12). Peter echoes this warning, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Or reflect on the regular occurrence of the admonition in scripture to “gird up your loins”—a call to prepare for battle. How much can someone who has never experienced the visceral threat of war grasp these admonishments?

Unsurprisingly, many of us are ignorant of the spiritual battle that wages around us when we haven’t experienced the threat of war at our front door. But the spiritual battle that rages around us is not contained to places where Christianity is confronting Islamic or Hindu strongholds. There is no square inch where the spiritual battle doesn’t rage. The question is whether we are asleep to that battle or not.

So, as news reports about Israel and Ukraine and other war-torn regions filter onto your screen, please pray for people and for peace. But please also be reminded of the battle you are in and put on Christ, who is your spiritual armor. Do you hear the air raid siren?

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Photo by riya rohewal on Unsplash