December 30, 2004

THE VANQUISHER

"Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15, NKJV).

The resurrection was God's V-Day! "Christ's life of victory, culminating in Calvary, spelled the doom of the devil. Satan's disguise was torn away. His methods of operation were laid open before the angels and the entire heavenly universe."--SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 205. At the cross, Christ stripped from the principalities and powers of darkness both their usurped office as princes of our planet and their power in the warfare against right. At Calvary, Satan was exposed, defeated, and made a spectacle for all to see. By His decisive victory. Christ has rightfully earned the title, "The Vanquisher."

The message of the cross is a message of triumph. Christ, crucified and risen, is Lord of all; all powers in the universe are subject to Him. By vanquishing the forces of evil, Christ has set His people free. Here and now all who have been delivered may share Paul's conviction "that neither death nor life... nor principalities nor powers... nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39, NKJV).

The vanquisher of sin and death is coming back for the final cleanup operation. He then will eradicate evil from our planet and reign supreme in righteousness. Here's a marvelous statement regarding Christ's victory: "In behalf of the human race, Jesus conquered the fallen foe; Satan was vanquished. Through the victory of Christ, the human race was elevated in moral value, not because of anything they had done, but because of the great work that had been wrought out for them through the only begotten Son of God."--Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, December 1, 1891.

My Prayer Today: Lord, You have vanquished Satan by Your triumph at the cross. May the cleanup operation be soon. Amen.