By Danny Minton

June 6 this year marks 80 years since the beginning of one of the deadliest campaigns of World War II. On June 6, 1944, the Allied troops launched an invasion of Normandy, codename “Operation Overlord.” On the first day, called D-Day, 4,414 Allied troops lost their lives, with an estimated 10,000 dead, wounded, or missing in the first 24 hours. When the operation ended on August 30, 1944, the death toll would be over 550,000 soldiers and civilians from all those who fought.

War is one of the saddest events in the world of humankind. Several sources claim that over the past 3,400 years, the world has been at total peace from war for 268 years. (War is defined as times when over 1,000 lives were lost.) Some believe there has never been a time when no conflict took place in the world. According to History.com, since 1776, the U.S. has been at peace for only 17 years.

We live in a violent world, as evidenced today by the current situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. The loss of life in those two wars has passed the 50,000 mark, with thousands more injured. Most of these are not soldiers but innocent civilians caught in the middle of harrowing situations. 

I have never had to fight in a war where my physical life was endangered. I was rejected for medical reasons when called up for Vietnam in 1966. However, I have family and friends who fought in WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. I have family and classmates who never came home and others who suffer from PTSD, Agent Orange illness, and other trauma. The glamor of many Hollywood movies remains far from reality for those who have fought or lived through areas at war. 

War finds its roots in the greed and evil desires of men who seek power and control over others. More wealth, power, and the evil desire to control others keep the world from obtaining the peace that most people earnestly seek.

Yet another war began before all wars and continues. The “Greatest War” takes place with far more casualties than any war ever fought. It’s a war against men whose casualties are more devastating than the loss of physical life. It’s the war that we fight against the evilness of Satan, an evil that pits the sins of man against the goodness that God desires. It’s a war that exists not among countries and groups but one that takes place within each one of us individually. It’s a war we must all fight, and it can only be won or lost individually.

Peter warns us to watch out for the enemy that attacks us. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV2011)

Paul tells us that to win the war against Satan, we must arm ourselves, not with the weapons of man. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) (2011) He encourages us to arm ourselves with what we need to defeat him. “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-17) (NIV2011) 

Jesus came to bring peace to a troubled world. He told us to love our enemies and do good to those who oppose us. “For God so loved the world,” that’s why he sent Jesus. The wars of the world bring death; however, the war against Satan with Jesus by our side brings life. Honor those who gave their physical lives to help sustain our freedom. However, most of all, honor the one who died on the cross to give us life.

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ