Good vs. Evil. God vs. Satan. Two equally powerful beings in an eternal struggle between darkness and light. Yin and yang. Nobody knows who will win or who will lose. But as long as they balance each other out, all is well with the universe, right? Wrong! We call this cosmic dualism. Sadly, many people (who call themselves “spiritual”) use this idea to make sense of the spiritual realm.
The Bible tells us a different story. It tells us that God is the eternal, sovereign Creator. Furthermore, God created Satan as a rebellious angel who can act only within the limits God permits (Job 1–2). The Bible tells us that Christ defeated Satan through His death on the Cross and His Resurrection (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). Coupled with this, Satan’s final judgment is certain, not undecided (Revelation 20:10).
There is clearly a spiritual battle going on. However, Satan holds no more authority over God than a single raindrop holds over the entire ocean. There is absolutely no comparison between the two.
Made Clear
Matthew 10:1 makes this clear. Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out. Also, they could heal every disease and every affliction. He willed it and spoke it into being. Just like that, Jesus gave the disciples more authority than anyone has ever had over sickness, affliction, and demons. Jesus certainly didn’t have to fight a raging battle to give them this authority. On the contrary, He just gave it to them because He could. Since He created and controls the spiritual realm, He can make these kinds of decisions. And nobody can do anything about it.
A bit later, Jesus sent more disciples out. Seventy-two that time. Luke 10:17-20 tells us, “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’”
We Rejoice
Rejoice that God has written your name in Heaven. Jesus tells them to rejoice in something they can’t see. But they know Jesus has the authority to assure them of this. Why? Because of all the cool things they saw and did (the lives they saved and the misery they squashed like a bug).
It reminds me of Luke 5, where Jesus tells the paralyzed man that He forgives his sins and that he should get up and walk. The Pharisees question Him, and Jesus says, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the man who was paralyzed— ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.’”
Jesus doesn’t give anyone but the Christian this assurance of Heaven. So, Christian, we don’t have the authority over unclean spirits. Nor sickness and affliction (like He gave His Apostles and the seventy-two). We still rejoice at all He has done, and we marvel at all of the promises He’s kept. Above all that, though, we should follow Jesus’ instruction and rejoice that God has written our names in Heaven. Not because of what we have done, but because of what He has done.
As it says in the Book of Life,
Billy Johnson
Posted in A Word from the Pastor