II John 1:8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”
The political adage, Peace Through Strength, is strongly reflected in the exhortation to “Look to yourselves”. Much like when “Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.” (II Chronicles 26:14). And, in a similar instruction, Paul Commands us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11). Thus, we are to “Look to” ourselves, to prepare ourselves; for, “The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 4:7). Similarly, if we don’t “Look to” ourselves as Commanded, “the lion” will steal away and ruin what “we have wrought” in the service to our Lord. A “good soldier” (II Timothy 2:3) vigorously trains himself to hone his skills and equips himself with the most powerful and effective weapons. Furthermore, “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” knows his enemy and checks himself (“Look to yourselves”) to prepare for the impending battle. We must never forget that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Corinthians 10:4); but, these natural illustrations help us to prepare ourselves “to stand against the wiles of the devil” (the “antichrist”) and his “deceivers” (II John1:7), by applying ourselves to learning the Word of God, living and behaving according to the Word of God, assembling together in the refuge of our Lord’s Church, and standing unified in the Word of God. Our Lord explained it this way, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29); that is, lovingly submit to His authority over us and “learn” our Lord’s Holy Word and transform our lives to it (Romans 12:2); always “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Ultimately it is our merciful and gracious Lord “which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight” (Psalms 144:1) “the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12). Born again (John 3:1-8) Children of God yearn for and labor for and “fight the good fight of faith” to have and keep this blessed “rest unto” our “souls” in this present life; but, the “deceivers” and the “antichrist” are fighting to ruin our “rest”.