Last night, we watched the Super Bowl. As we all watched intently, it looked like my team was going to lose. My team did not give in, and in some spectacular way, they won. Hurray!
That event reminds me of something in the Bible.
Around 2,000 years ago, a great battle took place. No, it was not a place where great armies lined up on the battlefield and fought it out. There was an enemy, and he had his forces in action trying to defeat his opponent. His army and forces of evil against Almighty God!
It all started at the beginning of time when Satan and many angels rebelled against God and were cast out of Heaven, (Luke 10:18 - And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.; John 8:44 - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.).
But the battle that day took place on a lonely hill called Golgotha, (Mark 15:22 - And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.). All the evil forces were against one man, Jesus. The enemy thought they had Him bound, beaten, weak, alone and nailed to a Roman cross.
The enemy rejoiced as they saw Jesus near death, and finally, death. They had no idea what had really happened as His precious innocent blood flowed down that day.
Yes, Jesus defeated the enemy that day, (Colossians 1:19-20 - For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.; Ephesians 2:1-9 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.). Anyone who has repented of their sins and called upon Jesus as Lord and Savior is on His team, (Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.; Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned...).
If not, they are on the losing team, (Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.).
See you in Church next Sunday.