No Fear: Devotions From Time Of GraceHalimbawa

Love It When Satan Loses

I am really sick of seeing and hearing how often Satan wins. I grieve over persecutions of Christians, destruction of Christian churches, and the inevitable refugees of the world’s constant wars. I grieve for children abused by the adults who were supposed to care for them. I grieve over how malicious hackers attack and ruin businesses, how Ponzi scheme sellers dupe people and destroy their savings.

I love it when Satan loses and loses big. The high priest Jehoiada was an outstanding adviser to the young king Josiah. His leadership was so compelling that Josiah followed him and the two launched a spiritual reformation that severely reduced Baal worship in Judah: “Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the LORD’s people. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars” (2 Chronicles 23:16,17). Jehoiada’s leadership brought an era of peace and blessing upon little Judah, its last. After he died, the wheels came off and the misery started again.

Satan is going to keep winning some of the battles, but Christ has already won the war. The really big things are safe and secure. The captives have been released, our sins have been forgiven, debts paid, and immortality guaranteed. Satan can’t steal anything from us that our eternal Father can’t and won’t restore many times over.

Satan, I love it when you lose.