The Victory Belongs to You!
How do we view the opposition between ultimate Good and evil? Is the war against Light and darkness too close to call?
From a movie or a book perspective, a close struggle between good and evil makes for an exciting and satisfying ending … when good finally overcomes.
Is this how God’s story also plays out?
The story of God is similar but also different. The similarity is that God (good) overcomes wickedness (evil).
However, in God’s story there are no nerve-racking conflicts that lead to uncertainty about the outcome. God has already won the victory in Christ Jesus, and it isn’t even close.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57, NASB, tells us, “‘Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Christians don’t have to frantically wonder whether they picked the winning side or not. Christ has already defeated sin and darkness in His life, death, and resurrection.
All who turn to Jesus in faith and repentance have no fear of these things. Evil no longer reigns, and God is calling mankind to return to Himself.
This is quite different from earthly wars, right?
For instance, WWII would have been much different if it weren’t for the resilience and bravery of soldiers at Normandy on D-Day.
I wasn’t alive during WWII, but I know people were frightened and nervous about the potential outcomes.
The good news with God: we already know the ending (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The enemy will oppose us (1 Peter 5:8), but he is powerless in the scope of eternity (Revelation 20:10).
Now, I don’t want to be naïve about the battles we face on a regular basis. The war is won, but the battles will continue throughout our lifetime.
However, the battles will end when Christ returns in glory.
Thomas Sappington writes, “It is clear from the overall teaching of Scripture that there is no eternal dualism between God, on the one hand, and Satan and his demonic followers on the other. Rather, Satan and his demonic subordinates were created by God, but chose to rebel prior to the creation of the world, and now stand in opposition to God and his purposes.”
Scripture doesn’t shy away from the truth that the forces of darkness will attack His children. The enemy is looking to oppose God in any way possible.
Ephesians 6:10-11, NASB, reads, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
When we look at this passage, clearly the victory belongs to the Lord. If we stand in the strength of His might, nothing can prevail against us.
Every morning, we can wake up with our faith secure in Christ, while taking up the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). There is no battle that can shake the Lord.
“The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like deer’s feet, and has me walk on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:19, NASB).
