I don’t know about you but there are times (more than I care to admit) where I feel like I’m losing more than I’m winning. I lose my patience more than I should. I show a lack of faith in God’s ability to work things out (without my help even!). I squirm and get impatient because God isn’t working as fast as I think He should (His timing and mine are way off). I fall to temptation again instead of standing firm (I can do it on my own I say or think).
I was reminded of my failure to win on my own as I read Revelation 17-18 this morning. Revelation 17 sets the stage with talk of a woman sitting on a scarlet beast with blasphemous names on it. Skipping a few verses we come to verse 14: “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” (ESV).
Then in chapter 18:2 it says, “Fallen, fallen in Babylon the great!” Reading ahead to verse 18 it says, “Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day-death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” (NLT)
Putting aside who this is referring to (not part of this devo), notice both speak of victory for God’s side. God’s people. God’s army. Call it what you like…God’s people-those who follow Him-will win. We will win because He has won and will win in the future.
Judgment will come to the enemies of God. They can shake their fist at Him and challenge Him. They will lose. Attack Him or His people (I’m not speaking of physical warfare). They will lose. God and His people will ultimately be victorious. They can have their protests against Him. They can have their protests against His truth. Denigrate His Name and strike out against His people. They can have their “fun” now.
They will lose in the end. GUARANTEED.
A good reminder we all need, Bill. This world is very discouraging without the hope of Gods victory in the end. We need that vision to guide us in the meantime.
Thanks Pam. We all need that hope of victory.
Taking the following out of a book I am reading… “Lies Men Believe”…
This is one of the counter truths from page 210…
“We live and serve in a world that is rigged against Jesus, and if we are with Him, it’s rigged against us. But we have the confident hope that one day all that’s wrong will be made right and that, in the meantime, He knows what He is doing and will sustain us in the battle.”
There will be battles… We are in a war… It’s a spiritual war… However, the spiritual war has physical consequences. I see it in my own life, I see it in the lives of others… I see it on the world stage… No doubt there are evil powers at play. I think this is where the rubber meets the road….
A wise christian brother said this last night at our men’s group meeting…
He doesn’t want his armor to be all shiny and polished when he is called home… It needs to be battered, it needs to be worn, it needs to be scarred.
It is time to take our spiritual armor off the wall as decorations and make sure it is being worn and ready for battle!
I like both quotes Ryan-the book’s and the one by your brother-in-arms. And I most definitely agree that it is time to take our spiritual armor off the wall.
This is a powerful thought, and I agree with all of you, if our armor is shiny and polished that just means we are too late for the battle. Either that, or perhaps we turned and ran from the battle. We need to be actively engaged!
Totally agree Ed. We need a banged up armor
Amen. Patience under pressure is not my strong suit. Thanks for the nudge to clear away the heart-clutter that keeps that fruit from blooming always, Bill.
I’m glad I am not alone Linda. I have this hankering for solving things as quickly as possible. Thanks for coming by.
They may win the occasional battle, Bill, but we can rest assured that God has already won the war.
Blessings!
True statement Martha. We are on the winning team.
God created the entire world, everything in it, the entire universe, and He created us. God is perfect and He does not make mistakes. If we would only learn to listen to the Holy Spirit who God gave us to guide us, wear our spiritual armor He equipped us with when we put it on, and read the Bible that teaches us. We would remember God is perfect, He will take care of us, God wins. All of our messes, and problems we hand our own dirty hands in. It is easy to read the Bible and say how could the Israelites act like that or think like that after all God did for them, look as us, we haven’t learn that lesson either.
Very true Gail. It is easy to look at the Israelites and say, “My my. They didn’t learn their lessons.” All I have to do is look in the mirror and see I have fallen short also. You say a lot in this short comment. Thanks for taking the time to answer so thoroughly.
Praising God with you, Pastor Bill, for the win we will all enjoy together one day! So thankful to be on the winning side with Jesus!
As am I Cheryl.