This phrase has come to my heart and mind several times in the last few weeks during my personal and private prayer time. Spiritual wickedness in high places. What does this mean for us today? Let’s consider for a moment Ephesians 6:12…
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12, KJV
The great and age old struggle between God and Satan, Good and Evil, Light and Dark is real and taking place all around us everyday. Equipped with holy writ and prayer and and a clean hear before God we battle the forces of darkness every day. We rely on the Spirit to lead and guide us in all truth as we all try and do our part in making the world a better place.
Just as God uses his people to effect change and good in the world we know that Satan uses his servants to “steal, kill, and destroy” here on Earth. One of the strategies that darkness uses is to corrupt and control leaders, sometimes even in high office, to meet out suffering, and pain, and destruction. It is the plan of the Devil to inflict and inject as much darkness as possible in the world. Satan accomplishes by using leaders who serve themselves, and their own vain and selfish ends, instead of serving and caring for those they are supposed to protect and serve.
We don’t have to look far to see spiritual wickedness in high places. I know I don’t. I think about David Miscavige of Scientology, Emperor Trump and former occupant of the Oval office, and Ted Cruz of Texas. David Miscavige is a wolf in sheep’s clothing who abuses his sheep and oversees harassment campaigns against those decide to leave and speak out against his fraud of a church. The Donald is by far the absolute worst president in U.S. history and personally responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans due to COVID-19. He also led an insurrection against our democracy by whipping up his supporters for months with lies and misinformation and then turned them loose on the Capitol building. Ted Cruz was one of the many enablers of Donald Trump and chief accomplices of the Big Lie that President Joe Biden didn’t win the election and actively attempted to thwart his certification by Congress. He also took a vacation enjoying sun and warm weather while his state was without power, and water, and heat in the middle of severe weather.
God help us to find our place in the struggle between darkness and light. God help us to honor good with our time, treasure, and talent; and not support in anyway leaders and systems that peddle hate and fear. God help us to find our path, our place, and our purpose in our lives and careers and volunteerism to help truth and light advance while also dispelling evil, discrimination, and spiritual wickedness in high places.
Amen.
P.S. If you would like to read Ephesians 6:12 in context I’m including it here below.
9) And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. 10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:9-15, KJV