The Two Standards

by Horacio de la Costa, S.J.

Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of
Satan. It is a warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is a
warfare wide as the world; it rages in every nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan
desires all men to come under his Standard, and to this end lures them with riches, honors,
power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to fight
under His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only the
Son of Man; born an outcast, raised in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend,
crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers shall not be confounded forever; they are
certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The powers of
darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shall
enter into glory with Christ, their king. Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every
man there comes the imperious cry of command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or
Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is summed up the life of every man.