The Conquered Foe

As the pilgrims (in Pilgrim’s Progress) journey on to the Celestial City, they must pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. In this valley roam great lions, seeking whom they may devour, as well as all manner of evil creatures and scary things. However, there is one very important thing to know about these creatures: they are what Greatheart calls, paper giants. They are only as real as you believe them to be. If a person believes the creatures to be powerful, then they will indeed be devoured. But those who walk by faith know that the enemy has no power to hurt them, and thus they pass through unharmed. You see, the great enemy, he has already been conquered. Many years ago, on a dark and mournful Friday afternoon, our Brother, Advocate, and Friend won the sweet, sweet victory over evil once and for all. The foe was vanquished, hell was defeated, and on that day evil lost its power forever. However, even though this is an unchangeable fact, I can still choose to give evil power in my life. Even though Christ already fought the battle for me, I can still choose not to accept that. It’s so easy to see, written in black and white, but in the heat of the battle, I so often forget that my enemy has already been conquered.

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8)

God’s Word is full of beautiful promises, which are meant to be taken seriously. For example, He clearly expresses His ability and intent to fully take care of His children. However, I can choose not to take Him at His word and spend all my time worrying about how I’m going to take care of myself (as you probably guessed, this is a very real-life example :). Whether or not I believe doesn’t change the fact of the matter (He can and will provide) but it certainly can change what happens in my life. The blessings might be right there in front of me, but I can’t see them if I don’t believe they exist. And even when God does manage to penetrate my doubts, I have wasted precious resources in misery and unbelief. I’ve often struggled with the practicalities of learning to trust God. I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way to really do that is to just keep spending time with Him, just being in His presence, until I know Him so well that I know, really know, that He is utterly trustworthy, and that His love is eternal and unconditional.

So for now, I just walk day by day, a little closer each time, and long for the day when we will truly be together.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!“
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

 Great is Thy Faithfulness