Two Forces

There are two forces at work in our humanity -- good and evil or light and darkness. Outwardly the power of evil seems formidable and intimidating to demolish humanity. But it cannot overcome the power of light because the prince of this world can work only within the periphery of God.  God is in total and complete control in the universe. The power of darkness cannot prevail but submit to the power of light.

Apostle Paul said a remarkable statement about the confidence of Christian. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NKJV) The power of God was exerted in the resurrection of the Son Jesus Christ. The most powerful weapon on earth is hydrogen bomb. But it is incomparable with the resurrection power because it can only destroy.

The power of God has worked in the tomb where there was no life, nothing but deadness and nothingness.  On that early morning, Jesus Christ the Lord rose again from the dead without any hindrance. Apostle Peter delivered his very first public sermon in the Jerusalem Temple on the Day of Pentecost. He marvelously yet plainly expounded what had happened to the Lord Jesus Christ on the resurrection morning. He witnessed that Christ Jesus rose again because it was impossible for death to hold him.

““Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” (Acts 2:22-24 NKJV)

That power is given to us at the moment of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts. That’s why Apostle Paul exclaimed that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).  So, every Christian is carrying within the most powerful force in heaven and on earth, not for destruction and ruin but for healing and restoration. As Paul said, we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because there is no rivalry against the power of resurrection. Nothing can set free humans except the gospel of Christ.

We do not yet see that all things are subject to the Lord Jesus Christ. The prince of darkness seems still in control when we read morning papers and listen to radios. But that is not reality at all. The devil has already been condemned through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:11). God is truth. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Even after Satan rebelled against the Holy God, he is totally and completely under His feet and in subjection to God Almighty.

The power of the devil should not be underrated. It is so powerful that it even brought down fire from heaven and consumed the sheep and the servants and a great wind to destroy all the children of Job (Job 1:13-19). The devil not only destroys humanity and things physically but also wrecks emotionally and psychologically, and even spiritually. He is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

However, we never forget the fact that the devil cannot pass the hedge of God even an inch. Satan is in full subjection to the Lord God Almighty who will judge and expel the devil eternally into the burning sulfur. It is impossible for the devil to win the game of destroying humanity because God condemned him to fall into humiliation and deprivation. Whatsoever the devil tries to achieve something shall turn into complete shame and degradation.

The devil can do nothing against the saints who are in the Lord Jesus Christ. If the devil tries to destroy us with the fiery darts of evil, then there is the double-edged sword of our Lord Jesus Christ to defeat. If Satan tries to condemn us with guilt and despair a thousand times, then there is the blood of Christ Jesus the Lord which purifies us forever.

Apostle Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus that they might grasp the mighty truth on the power of the gospel which was beautifully and gloriously manifested in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That power is not something we will get in the future or after death but ours right now. We can render that mighty power by loving others today. We can render that power of Christ Jesus by being patient and faithful unto the Lord Jesus Christ today.

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV)

The power of God is far above all principality and power and might and dominion!