Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV) 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[c]
I wish to open with a statement. Jesus is not going to win the war. Now, take a deep breath and put down your torch and pitchfork.
This statement may be absurd…bold…and angering! Apostasy! Heresy! What foolishness is it to suggest Jesus will not win the war of eternity of mankind?! You see, we can be quick to be reactionary, even if what we stand on is firm truth. Yet why would I make such a bold and bordering on derogatory statement?
Let me ask you a question, do you believe God is sovereign? TRULY Sovereign? Most of us will immediately answer, “yes of course!” Which is a great response! Yet how often do we truly dig in to this statement? Assuredly, God has a plan. He has a plan for literally everything and everyone. We see examples in Psalm 139, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 16:4, Ephesians 1:3-14…and many many MANY more.
We often say that statement so half-hazardly. He is in control. He has a plan. Yet don’t grasp the true depth of it. You see, He wove all things into HIS creation from eternity past. Before ever a single day had dawned, everything was already written into His book. He is the author. He holds the pen. All that you experience in your life was handwritten into being by a most wonderful God.
When times are difficult…when challenges weigh upon us…we forget this far too quickly. Likely, because we had never truly spent the time to meditate and savor on this truth. Yes, even the hard times we experience are written into being by God Himself!. Why??? To draw us ever closer to Him. Romans 5 is a great example of this.
This submission to the truth of the depth of God’s Sovereignty grants an absolutely mind blowing realization. “God is in this…because He has already written it.” It sounds so cliche, but it is so true and encouraging. The Lord of all Creation is not merely in it now, He was already shepherding you closer to Him before this experience ever began! Whatever it is you’re facing, you can be assured
He has His fingerprints all over them!
This applies to our very souls! In the Scripture above we see a beautiful picture of Christ conquering death, redeeming His people, and granting mercy and grace untold upon those who love Him. All authorities, all rulers, all powers, all philosophies, all other false gods, all other people, all other beliefs, all things in this Creation, each and every single one kneels before His supremacy and sovereignty.
Back to that absurd statement I made at the open of this devotional. Jesus will not win the war….this statement is in the future. How could He win something in the future that He already won? Say it aloud with me “JESUS ALREADY WON THE BATTLE! JESUS ALREADY WON THE WAR!”
When He said “It is finished…” He meant it! It was a moment that He orchestrated before Creation, that would last but an instant but have its reaches across all of eternity for His glory and His alone.
ONE MORE TIME - JESUS ALREADY WON THE WAR!
SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!!
