God was pleased to
have all his fullness dwell
in [Jesus, his Son], and
through him to reconcile
to himself all things,
whether things on earth
or things in heaven,
by making peace through
his blood, shed on the cross.
What is peace? After long battles, I think of famous pictures like the one from the officer-lined decks of the USS Missouri in September of 1945. Two admirals, on behalf their nations, would sign peace treaties, bringing an end to World War II.
Eighty years earlier, two generals would meet at a courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia. Ulysses S Grant and Robert E. Lee, representing their two sides, would likewise sign a treaty, bringing an end to another bloody war.
Peace In both of these cases was not a ceasefire - where hostilities stop but no one can declare victory. No. Peace in this case was decisive. One side rose in resounding victory and the other fell in final defeat.
Today's verse essentially says that the Cross of Christ was the ultimate peace treaty, signed with the blood of Christ.
For virtually all eternity there has been a war in heaven and on earth. Darkness has been battling Light. Lies have been sabotaging Truth. Death has continually been assaulting Life.
Ephesians 6:12 describes the cosmic dimensions of this battle like this: "For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
But on the cross, this verse reaffirms that Christ Jesus won the war. This was the victorious scene as final and decisive as those on the USS Missouri and at Appomattox Courthouse.
But here's the question: Where were the two generals representing the two sides?
After Satan had tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Luke 4:13 says, "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time." The Devil found his opportune time when he tempted and turned Judas. Jesus was arrested. A sham of the trial was conducted. Jesus was whipped and beaten. The general of heaven was hung on a cross. He was signing the treaty of victory and surrender with his blood.
In a sense, the other general, Satan, showed up on the decks of the USS Missouri, thinking he had won. He signed a presumably victorious peace treaty by orchestrating the hanging of Jesus on the cross. But it wasn't until three days later - on Easter Sunday morning - when Satan bothered reading the terms and conditions and fine print. The tomb was open. The real victory was won.
Now, we live in a time of virtually instantaneous communication. Throughout history that was not always the case. A peace treaty could be signed, but it could take days or weeks for word of the victory and surrender to reach the farthest flung troops. Sadly, even after the war has officially end, there has historically been bloodshed and death.
After World War II, there was even an occasional story about a marooned Japanese soldier who kept fighting the war for years, even decades, because word of surrender had never reached his hiding place on a lonely Pacific island.
With the Easter Resurrection, the victory was utterly, clearly, and eternally won. The peace treaty was the cross. Christ now reigns victorious. Nevertheless, word of heaven's victory hasn't fully sunk in to Satan and his minions. They haven't comprehended the full victory, nor their ultimate defeat. Therefore, they keep fighting on.
And that's the world we live in today. The victory has been won, but the enemy keeps fighting. And you can choose to stand confident in victory ... or be constantly overwhelmed by the futile battle.
In Christ's Love,
a guy who is enlisting
as an officer on
the victorious side
(It’s my opportune time!)
peace treaties being signed.
Sent from my iPhone
No comments:
Post a Comment