I’ve been reflecting on many things from my past as the Lord brings them to mind. I honestly brought this statement to the Lord in prayer, that I felt like I had won many battles, but I keep losing the war. I took a few hours to process that thought. There are some things about this that are just wrong. Ultimately the war is not going to be over until Jesus establishes His kingdom on the earth, and He has already promised me that I will rule and reign with Him. There is nothing about that that looks like losing.
Many Dictionary definitions describe winning a battle but losing the war, as a military mindset that achieves a minor victory that ultimately results in a larger defeat, rendering the victory empty or hollow. It can also refer to gaining a small tactical advantage that corresponds to a wider disadvantage.
A writer that I disagree with on nearly everything named Ram Dass said something I do agree with. He said “winning all the battles but losing the war seems to keep happening to the United States. We find ourselves repeatedly caught in the same trap, trying to operate in environments where our political purchase is minimal, and then compensating militarily (winning all the battles), which only obscures our basic dilemma.” He went on to say, “we have a very capable and well-equipped military. Consequently, it tends to perform well even under the most adverse conditions, conditions that would destroy many other armies. Yet the results frequently range from disappointing to non-existent. Our fate in Vietnam was epitomized during negotiations a week before the fall of Saigon when an American general told his counterpart: “You know you never beat us on the battlefield.” “That may be so,” the Vietnamese replied, “but it is also irrelevant.”
In a spiritual context, the greatest example of winning a battle but losing the war is found in Satan. The death of Jesus Christ took place because the government of the day felt like it was politically and governmentally expedient to get rid of Him, even though they found no fault in Him. But was it really the government that accomplished this or was it bigger than a government policy? We know that Satan was behind this act. Satan wanted Jesus dead. On the cross, Satan won the battle. But, subsequently, three days later Jesus arose from the dead and Satan lost the war.
In the early hours of the morning, it became clear to me a truth I’ve preached many times but now becomes a guiding principle for my life. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Paul teaches us in his letter to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. I may lose some battles. I will win some battles. The truth is there will ultimately be battles to fight. But through Jesus Christ my Lord, I’ve been made by Him more than a conqueror, and I will keep looking for new battles to fight because the war is already won.
Therefore I can endure hardness as a good soldier. Thank God Jesus has already won the war and I am in Him forever.
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