The dark lord, Sauron, forged a ring to rule them all. The fearless man warrior, Isildur, sliced the ring from Sauron's hand. Years later, a young boy named Smeagol found it, later to become the hideous Gollum.

J. R. R. Tokien wrote:

Much that once was, is lost. For few now live who remember it. And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth and many greats have faded away into history.

Is this not what the prince of darkness, the father of lies, and the tempter is working hard to do in our world today? If anything is pure, lovely, holy, good, God-fearing, or Christ-loving he will do all he can to wear it down from age to age until it crumbles in the vase of myth. I spoke with a graduate from Western Michigan University just a few days ago who told me, "It's now questionable if Jesus even actually lived." 

But God is not asleep. He will vindicate His glorious name when the time is right (2 The 1:5-10). And how will He do that? Through His people! When Jesus left earth He handed the baton of spiritual battle to His followers. He left the proclamation of His name to eleven mostly uneducated, very sinful men, saved by grace.

And the battle strategy is simple: proclaim and live the Word. Shout the good news and serve broken sinners. I am convinced that these two activities are the most powerful, life-changing, gospel-vindicating, God-proving activities on the face of earth.