D-Day

I heard an analogy from Duncan Forbes today I thought was awesome.

He was preaching on how Satan tries to mess up the church and tempt us all the time, pulling us away from Jesus. I know, as many of us do, this experience first hand. Satan is a punk who just doesn't let up. And, sadly, too often, we give into him without even knowing it. Praise the longsuffering of God to put up with fickle beings such as us.

But the point Duncan was making was about the question of why the heck is Satan still rolling around trying to mess us up when Jesus got victory over him on the cross? A good question indeed.

Remember World War II from history class? How about D-Day? How about VE-Day and VP-Day?

On D-Day the war was over. It was a massive invasion by the Allied forces and the climactic battle of the war. There were battles to go fight for almost another year, but really, it was over. Surrender finally happened in Europe on VE-Day and in Japan on VP-Day.

Our D-Day happened nearly 2000 years ago on the cross. Christ was victorious over sin and death. He won the war for us. We have some battles to fight until he returns and makes a new heaven and a new earth. But Satan has no hope. All he can do is try to drag us down with him into the lake of fire when he goes.

There are still many who need to take sides in this war that's already won. In this war, the soliders on the winning side rejoice when defectors have a change of heart and come to join them. Choose Victory. Choose Christ.

Grace and Peace

Damn You, Satan

Jesus already won the war, but sometimes we lose some battles, and I think Satan won one tonight.

We're going through a book called Leading Little Ones To God that looks pretty good for teaching children the basics of the faith. I wanted something that was more comprehensive that went into good detail on the big picture of creation, the fall, sin, the promise, the fulfillment, salvation, etc.

Tonight was the night we were going to read a most important chapter about God sending his son Jesus into the world. And what do you know? This little problem. That little problem. Two kids are fighting about something. Another kid is grumpy (we have visitors, there's more than two kids :-)). Trinity lands funny and gets her back messed up.

A million little things all add up together and prevent going through the chapter tonight because the kids really do need to get to bed sometime, and it was already getting way too late.

That really irks me. Granted, its a good sign in one way. Satan doesn't mess with people that he's already got -- he messes with the ones that got away and have a new master. I don't really expect him to leave me alone. He didn't leave Jesus alone, so what hope do I have of that? None. I'll just trust that somehow God's going to pull some good even out of the madness tonight, because I have it on good authority that all things work for good for those who love God.

Grace and Peace