Stand in victory, the battle is already won

It is sad to fight and die in a battle when the war is already over. Such was the battle of the war of 1812 that was fought near New Orleans, between English troops and US troops after the war was over? Communication was so slow that they did not find out that the war was over until many more young men died needlessly.

When Jesus hung on the cross, he cried out,”It is finished” Satan has been vanquished but he is still free (for a brief while) to plant doubts and make us forget that we are already immortal!

The old man has been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live (and dead people are clearly out of the war) but the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of Jesus, and his faith never waivers.

You will probably agree with me that, “It does not feel as though the war is over, I feel under attack, and the devil seems right when he suggests that I can never win and might as well give up and surrender to temptation.”

Many of the veterans that I treat, often feel as though they are back on the battlefield. Therapy involves helping them remember, picture, and act in the fact that the battle is over.

So, since the victory is already won, what manner of person ought I then to be? I should rest in Jesus’ hard won peace. I should declare to others who are full of battle stress, that the war is over. I should rejoice in my hope-filled future. I should attack the crumbling hold outs of the devil’s kingdom remembering the the gates of hell will not be able to withstand the onslaught.

Song by Gloria and William Gaither

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished, and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart the battle was raging
Not all prisoners of war have come home
These were battlefields of my own making
I didn’t know that the war had been won

Then I heard that the king of the ages
Had fought all my battles for me
And victory, victory was mine for the claiming
And now praise his name, I am free

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished, and Jesus is Lord (Jesus is Lord)

It is finished, and Jesus is Lord
Jesus is Lord

I knew someone who adopted a very damaged 7 year old orphan from the streets of Mexico City. Now he was loved and guaranteed food, education, clothes safety and even loving parental attention. However he did not “feel” safe. He still felt that he was fighting to survive. If she tried to hug him he winced and ducked. He hid food in his room for future lack. He cried himself to sleep at night. Was she angry that he could not rest in her love? Of course not. However she longed for the day that he could rest in the new life she had for him.

Our Lord is not surprised or angry when we fail to rest in Him but he too longs for the day that we can and his Holy Spirit stand ready to help us move into the peace that is ours.