And as life's pains and sorrows commence to embrace us, as we begin to lose ourselves in the darkness of life we become blind to His Grace realizing that the frigid pit in which we are stuck in is all our eyes can see. Often times there are stark and desolate holes that we find ourselves lost in. And after much arduous escaping attempts we gasp for life only to notice ourselves curled up, trembling with doubts and fear from the horrific pits of darkness. But in the midst of our pit, in the furious fiery furnace, in the center of our lion’s den, if and when we turn our focus upon Jesus, our eyes become wide open and we clearly begin to see that He is here standing amidst our pit waiting for us to allow him to take the reins of our life. Outlying above the lonesome darkened hole that we are in…, far above the valley of the shadows of death…, beyond the vastness of the heavens endures the story of Christ. Though there are different explanations for these dreadful dwellings, these pits of life nevertheless are brief moments, but the story of Christ stands firm for all eternity!
I have learned that there are excruciating pits of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I've learned to allow my God to comfort and grow me so that whatever lies within these pits will dread and fear me. It is in the darkest of moments that we must focus to keep our light on so that maybe just maybe someone will be led home to the arms of God. In the core of all difficulty rests some type of opportunity. We must embrace trials and tribulations and burn them as fuel for our journey.
Jesus Christ made a public spectacle of Satan’s army the day He died for our sins! For Christ won the battle for our souls by removing our burdens our sins and our slavery to Satan! This is the encouragement we have as believers!
Colossians 2:11-15 says: “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, (meaning he made them a laughing stock… humiliating them in the deepest of ways) triumphing over them by the cross.”
As we read the written story which scales across creation we translucently contemplate that Christ has given us eternal life, He forgave our sins, freed us from the condemnation of the written code, and gave us victory over the evil forces of Satan! Christ redeemed us from Satan’s evil grip! The dark spiritual powers and authorities were conquered and disarmed by our Jesus, who is to be praised and blessed forever and ever!!! Truly Satan bruised the heel of Christ; but Christ crushed his head! (Gen. 3:15) God used Satan against himself! For Satan thought he won the victory; but instead, he lost! If Satan and his malevolent brigade had known that Jesus’ death was to bring victory to the lost, he would’ve protected Jesus, keeping Him from dying for our sins! For, as it is written in 1 Corinthian 2:7-8, “...we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Thanks be to God for giving us victory in Jesus Christ, the Savior! By fighting the battle Satan himself didn’t understand that God released the forces that work against us! Jesus didn’t come to take the world from Satan; He came to take us from Satan’s world!
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!” 1 John 5: 3-5
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