We are engaged in a war of unseen spiritual forces of wickedness that want to deceive, divide and destroy families. Barbara and I once sat beside a person on a plane whose life is a snapshot of how ordinary people get caught up in this cosmic war.Susan, in her late twenties, said she was a Christian. She was single, and three times divorced. She said her parents were in their late eighties and heartbroken about the lives of their three daughters.
Susan's first sister, whose husband was verbally and emotionally abusive, had just been institutionalized for attempted suicide. Her other sister was an "active" Christian, married for 20 years with three kids, but on the verge of divorce.
And then there was Susan, who confessed that she was sleeping with her boyfriend. Lonely and fearful, she knew her biological clock was ticking and she wanted a family. Dropping her standards, she was seriously considering marriage to a man who denied the existence of God.
It was a fascinating yet sad conversation. There sat this young woman, talking of family values. But she didn't have a clue as to what her values were. Susan's beliefs were shallow and her life reflected it.
As we said good-bye, I paused to think about the other people on that plane. Like Susan, most were dressed fashionably and looked as if they had life pretty much under control. I couldn't help but wonder how many others on that plane had similar heartbreaking stories like Susan's.
It's a struggle that occurs every day in your heart and mine. It's a life and death battle of choosing good or evil. To fight it, the Susans of the world-and all of us-need to clarify our convictions. Change begins with convictions. Right choices flow from right thinking.