Like almost everyone else, I have been watching Operation Iraqi Freedom on television for the past couple of weeks. Along with the coverage of the military activities, there has been coverage of the many events revolving around this event. The scope and depth of this coverage is like no previous event in history. Each day as events unfold we are bombarded with opinions by experts, non-experts, opinionated personalities, and a wide variety of intelligent and not so intelligent people. From the gung ho attitude of Fox News to the cautious and politically correct attitude of the major networks to the outright hostile reporting of Al Jezeera, it is enough to leave a person shell shocked.

Yet I find myself coming back for more and when I have been away for a while, checking in to see what progress has been made. The media has successfully captured the ultimate reality TV program. War as entertainment leaves me feeling very disturbed and wondering about our progress on the pathway of civilization.

It strikes me as no accident that this current war is taking place on the soil where Sodom and Gomorrah once stood. The birthplace of western civilization is attributed to the very spot where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow close together. This fertile valley was once thought to be Eden, the birthplace of Adam and Eve. This was also the location of the Tower of Babel, and the hanging gardens of Babylon. Here we are, thousands of years later, using the same methods (violence and killing) to solve problems that the very earliest of organized men used.

Despite the application of high technology which greatly improves the ability of individual soldiers, the ultimate solution is to kill those who refuse to cooperate or show respect for the international community.

It also strikes me as no accident that Saddam Hussein is proud of his heritage, (supposedly) tracing his roots all the way back to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian King who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and took the Jews of the Old Testament to Babylon as slaves. So after thousands of years of civilization and all the modern miracles of high technology and advanced scientific knowledge, we find ourselves focused on the very part of the world where the Bible takes place.

This turn of events puts to rest all questions as to how relevant the Bible is to our everyday life. The pages of the Bible are coming to life each day on millions of TV’s all over the planet.

These events have caused me to realize that every day there are three wars going on all over the world. There is the war between order and chaos, the war between good and evil and the war for the hearts and souls of mankind. All of these wars rage around us every day. The accidents and catastophies, plagues and disasters that occur on a daily basis are material manifestations of the war between order and chaos.

The battle between good and evil takes place on a global and personal level each day. In my opinion, Operation Iraqi Freedom is just such a battle. Saddam Hussein and his regime are, quite simply, a personification of evil, just as his heroes, Hitler and Stalin were personifications of evil in their day. The coalition forces represent the force of good in the world and it has become their duty to destroy Saddam and his henchmen. Finally, there is a daily battle being waged for the souls of mankind. That battle takes place between God and his adversary.

It is no accident that we have been reminded in the clearest way that all of us have a responsibility to think about and work on our spiritual battlefield. We must be vigilant and strong in this personal battle against the forces of darkness. Fortunately, we have close at hand all the ammunition, firepower and supplies necessary to win this personal battle. This incredible power lies within the pages of the Bible and if you haven’t done so lately, you need to start now to read the Bible each day. Consider the lessons contained within its pages and apply them to your personal life as best you can.

Just like the brave soldiers who are putting their lives on the line and even paying the ultimate sacrifice, we have someone who paid for our future with his life so that by believing in Him we can be with Him when we move on from this material world. I don’t believe that it is an accident that this current war is taking place at the very time that Christians celebrate Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.

Despite the separation of Church and State, the United States is still primarily a Christian nation and during these difficult days, celebrating the life and resurrection of Christ is a great way to get in touch and in tune with the deeper meaning of life and the loving power of God. Easter is not about rabbits and eggs, it is about our Savior paying the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, just as our brave soldiers are paying for our future security and freedom in Iraq.

We all need to be soldiers on the battlefield of life, fighting for the Lord and following His will for us. Will the coalition win this battle against evil? I believe they already have, but this is also a representation of the battle for the hearts and minds of mankind and that battle is still in question.

That battle takes place within and without each of us and can only be won by seeking the truth contained in the Word of God and learning to be more Christlike in our daily lives. May God Bless you all and may the light and life of Christ become a larger part of your daily life.