It is a fun time of the year. Kids back in school, the weather is tempering, life is tumbling towards the holidays and the referee whistle sounds!

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I asked my neighbor, a big South Eastern Conference fan, what his favorite "kind" of game was with his favorite team. Almost immediately he answered "It is when the Dawgs (Univ. of Georgia) whips the other team so badly the game is well in hand within the first 10 minutes". He liked the "blow out" game versus the "nail biter" that his team pulls out at the end. We agreed that the satisfaction level is amped up when his team blows out the competition of a worthy opponent instead of the "cup cake" team.

 

We sometimes need to be reminded that when Jesus defeated satan (past tense) it wasn't even a competition. It was a totally crushing defeat. A defeat that will be competed with swimming lessons in the lake of fire.

 

Whether we spiritually are in "the first 10 minutes" or in the "fourth quarter", satan and his minions have been crushed, embarrassed, and humiliated - "through death He might DESTROY the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2:14). "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him" (Col. 2:15).

 

Sometimes it is helpful to remember what ALREADY has occurred. This is no "tug of war". The war is already won. I like to visualize our position during the "victory parade" as the defeated is led before the VIP grandstands. We are not in the parade - no, those were the conquers. We are sitting in the VIP stands, watching, enjoying and basking in the total defeat of "the other side". . . the lopsided victory. Through Jesus and because of Him, we are "more than conquers" (Rom. 8:37)

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Mike Bradberry

mb52@aol.com

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