Tuesday, November 9, 2010
SOBERING THOUGHTS AT THE END OF THE CHURCH YEAR (2):
OUR ENEMY IS SPIRITUAL
What makes a monster really scary? Is it the fact that they come and go unobserved, that they hide under the cover of darkness and only appear when it's too late? Are they frightening because it seems they can't be killed, and they keep coming?
Very often "make believe" monsters are like us, made of the same stuff as we are -- but not our real enemies. Our real enemies are not like us. We are told plainly: " ... we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
Our enemies are spiritual. We can't see what we are up against -- because they aren't visible. They are also described as:
Principalities (Rulers) - They are not merely underlings. Furthermore as spiritual rulers, they are not confined to a country; they don't need a passport or to stand in line to enter the country. They are:
Powers (Authorities) - They are authorized by Satan to use their might and cunning to the best possible advantage. They are:
Rulers, Tyrants of this Darkness - We know that God is the highest authority of all, and yet the Word of God speaks of the Devil as the "ruler of this world" (cf. John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11) and "the god of this age" (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4). Ever wonder why so many earthly rulers have opposed Christ and Christianity? Who is manipulating whom? They are:
Spiritual Hosts of Wickedness - who are also pictured as dwelling (not in Heaven) but in heavenly places where nothing escapes their observation.
These are sobering, even scary thoughts indeed -- until we remember that (TLH 262:2): "... for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected." Our Savior Jesus, the Seed of the Woman, has taken on the enemy and crushed his head, winning the victory. He Himself marked the completion of his work to time and eternity when he declared: "It is finished!"
