Why do people fight? Is there a difference between the “Real or an unreal fight in this world?” If there a difference, then did anyone fight the real fight alone? Or, can anyone fight it alone?
If the fight is avoidable then why do we have conflicts with each other in our family, neighborhood, community, and the world?
On the contrary, if unavoidable, can anyone fight alone with a much stronger opponent who makes as much use of camouflage as his friends, colleagues, comrade, and ally do?
I am sure, all of us at one point in time questioned ourselves as to why do we fight? Do we fight to survive in this world? Or, is it human nature to fight? Because sometimes knowingly we fight in real life for an empathic understanding of one’s feelings; however, most of the time we fight due to our unsympathetic character and selfish inherited nature.
As you may know in the secular world psychologists provide various reasons for our fights, and one of the published articles on this topic is from the Business Insider magazine titled “6 unexpected psychological reasons people get into fights,” and they are as follows:
- You (or someone you know) have lots of power, but not much respect;
- You (or your partner) are not getting enough sleep;
- You’re rational – to a fault;
- You’re self-involved;
- You’re not kind enough to yourself; and
- You’re not authentic.
The “Real fight for one’s life” in the context of human nature, and when we evaluate ourselves based on the above and other various reasons, the fight(s) in this world is unavoidable because I think of an inherited characteristic of animosity in us from the beginning of creation.
Therefore, we witnessed, participated, and fought so far, not only with our partners, children, sibling, family member, relatives, and also with our neighbors and communities in this world. However, the Real fight is still on and we have yet to win it! So far many have fought alone and finally either gave up or surrendered to a clever adversary.
If the Real fight is still on and no one can fight alone, then how long does one have to face it in his or her lifetime? Is there anyone who can be a “True friend” and support us in this Real fight in our life so that we can face no more conflicts among ourselves?
When we think and realize that so far no expert psychologist, philosopher, politician, family member, or even religious leader is able to stop the “Real fight” that we face every day in our lives? Are they friends or foes, we wonder? An opponent tries to camouflage his real intentions by talking about friendship, relationship, or comrade for his self-interest to win the fight. As a result, whoever tried to fight alone finally gave up their life to an adversary who is in control. Therefore, we’re still faced with all kinds of conflicts not only within our families, neighbors, and communities but also in the world.
Yes, the Real fight is still on! Because the Real fight for one’s life to survive in this world depends on recognizing the presence of both external and internal forces of good and evil and acting upon them accordingly.
The Real fight and conflicts that we face in our life in this world may seem unrelated but when we think seriously they are two sides of the same coin. Means, it is the moment of truth that we’re faced with both physical and spiritual fights and conflicts at the same time, and due to our inherited nature of spiritual blindness, if you will, no one can separate them without the real “Support and a Helper” in our lives.
In my opinion, the fights and conflicts that we witness and experience in the secular world are mutually inclusive, and directly and indirectly affect our “Real fight to live” in this world, which for the most part seems to be the result of an adversary’s camouflaged strategies’ since many tried to fight alone, and at last, gave up.
The “Real fight” is still on for those who never gave up the fight because they heard that there is a “True friend and Helper,” who promised “Never to leave” them alone in this fight. The One and only who has the power to defeat and destroy our both physical and spiritual fights at the same time of an adversary’s camouflaged evil deeds once and for all!
If I had not known this fact, I would have given up this “Real fight” by this time, like many who fought alone and gave up and surrendered to an opponent.
At this point, the connotations of determination, confidence, and comfort surrounded me with an old hymnal that I heard during my late teenage years with my oldest sister in South India in a meeting, and since that day this hymn assured me, and on this Easter Sunday prompted me to write this blog in the context of “Still to fight on”, which states,
“I’ve seen the lighting flashing and heard the thunder roll;
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of Jesus telling me still to fight on;
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.
Chorus:
No, never alone, no, never alone,
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone;”
No, never alone, no, never along,
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.
The world’s fierce winds are blowing, temptations are sharp and keen;
I feel a peace in knowing my Savior stands between;
He stands to shield me from danger when earthly friends are gone,
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. …Chorus
When in affliction’s valley, I’m treading the road of care,
My Savior helps me to carry my cross when heavy to bear;
My feet entangled with briars, ready to cast me down;
My Savior whispered His promise Never to leave me alone…Chorus
He died for me on the mountain, for me they pierced His side,
For me He opened that fountain, the crimson, cleansing tide;
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His throne;
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. …Chorus
He gives me the sweet promise that He will come again,
And when He reigns in glory and I to heaven attain;
I shall in that dear country be numbered with His own;
And live with Him forever, never, no never alone…Chorus
(See footnote for hymn writer’s information)
Yes, for a “Believer” Jesus is telling “Still to fight on.” On Good Friday, on that mountain, He stood and opened that fountain of the crimson cleansing tide, and shielded us from the world’s fierce winds and temptations.
Yes, for a “Believer” the “Real fight” is still on as long as he or she lives in this world with an assurance that He will come quickly and fight according to Revelation 2:16, which states “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth (NKJV).”
Yes, as we know that on Good Friday He stood on that cross and showed His way to a sinner who can acknowledge and believe in Him, even at the point of death that He can give him or her “Eternal Life.”
Yes, Jesus Christ on that cross showed His believers that the result of a “Real fight in our lives” is a victory through Him alone with an immediate award to enter into His kingdom as he told one of the criminals who acknowledge our Savior as He stated, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23:43 NKJV).”
As we can see that a criminal who repented at a lost moment in his life entered His kingdom even before our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Sunday. This is the assurance a believer has with our Lord!
Yes, “He promised never to leave His believers alone;” therefore, we can’t give up this “Real fight” till we get the final reward with permission to enter His kingdom.
Yes, indeed Jesus Christ is risen and He walks with us, and talks to us if we believe in Him!
Note: This hymn is written by Ludie Carrington Day Pickett, wife of Leander Lycurgus Pickett, a Methodist evangelist. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett were founding members of Asbury Seminary/College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and their son Jarrell W. Pickett was a Methodist missionary in India during then Prime Minister Nehru.
In 1993, our family visited Rev. Dr. John T. Seamands and his wife Ruth’s residence at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dr. Seamands and his wife Ruth were missionaries (1940-1960) in South India.
Dr. Seamands, when I was a child in India, he baptized me. As John Wesley, founder of Methodism stated that “Prevenient grace, which is God’s active presence in people’s lives before they even sense the divine at work in their lives.” I believe in it, and that is what happened during our visit. Dr. Seamands on that day baptized our daughter Rebekah as a child in Wilmore Methodist Church.
On the same day, Dr. Seamands took us to the Wilmore Cemetery and showed Bishop Jarrell W. Picketts,’ Memorial Grave, a son of Ludie Carrington Day Pickett, who wrote the above-stated hymn.
Dr. Seamands explained to us all about Bishop Picketts’ work in India. Today, I understand, Dr. Seaman’s Memorial Grave is also located in Wilmore Cemetery, and Lord willing we might visit one day this place and pay our respect to this great man of God.