Sunday, June 23, 2019

This is Where the War Ends!

I’m not usually one to proclaim declaration. But this is where the war ends.
Over every voice of derision, whether within and without, we cast over them the power of Jesus that smothers judgement with love. This is where the war ends.
Over every worry or concern, founded or unfounded, we cast over them the faith of Jesus that exonerates judgement over fear with perfect love. This is where the war ends.
Over every reality of treason or prison or image of captivity, established or promised, we cast over them the truth of Jesus’ words: “I have overcome the world.” This is where the war ends.
Over every sickness and disease, whether viral or threatening, we cast over them the assurance of healing, by the powerful name, blood and anointing of Jesus—the One who was and is and is to come, King of kings, Lord of lords. This is where the war ends.
Over every statement against us, whether in print or imagined, whether meant or implied, we cast over them the love that fuels peace—a light that darkness cannot overcome. This is where the war ends.
Over every lament and sorrow and regret, endured or about to be, we cast over them the sure and apparent knowledge that God is good in the midst of them. This is where the war ends.
And though we cannot overcome in the definitive sense, our Jesus has overcome in the eternal sense, and this is what we come again to, today, afresh, as a gentle smile pervades our countenance. This is where the war ends.
Truth is, the war ended a long, long time ago. Indeed, retrospectively, we can see that the war ended at the beginning. That moment, theologically, that God designed a peace plan to redeem a fallen humanity from its crimes against itself and God. The war ended officially at the nailing of our sins to the cross of Calvary. But the war truly ended, prophetically speaking, when God spoke creation into reality.
Yet we know a reality that is far too hellish to contemplate without God. The injustices of hell seem to reign all over the earth. The expectation of the kingdom coming can seem futile. We may lose all hope. And yet this is why we need to be reminded that this is not our war; and that this is where the war ends; as we have our Lord who battled and battles for us. This is where the war ends!
Whatever you are warring with or against, I call you to encouragement, to the blessedness of the One who may remind you that the war is done. And though you may still be in the trenches, know that it ends well. That is assured.

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