The Battle

The battle between good and evil began in the garden of Eden when temptation became sin, placing a barrier between man and God. The story is known historically, naturally, and spiritually, from beginning to end. All men and all cultures everywhere face the same barrier between themselves and their creator. But God. But God. But God.

But God already planned for man's redemption and the removal of the barrier by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the spotless Passover lamb sacrificed once for all. Again, historically, naturally, and spiritually verified. After the satisfactory substitutionary sacrifice, the veil was torn from top to bottom to signify God's removal of that barrier between man and God whereby only Levitical priests were permitted to enter God's presence. God removed the barrier because the perfect sacrifice had been made to satisfy the wrath against sin. Man can now approach God without a mediator. The mediator is the Holy Spirit, sent at Pentecost to seal man's eternal access to the throne room. We all can now enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). He has made me glad! I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

Evil is defeated one person at a time when temptation and sin are rejected. When all sin is subjected to Christ's authority, the present earth will be transformed into a new heaven and a new earth where no evil corrupts our land, water, air, thoughts, actions... Meanwhile, we are each called to conquer temptation and sin from within.

What, then, is our hope? Our daily hope is to take every thought captive to the authority of Christ. It can be done; and when it is done daily, when we take up our cross by taking out thoughts captive, we have victory, we have overcome the world. We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. He endured the cross for us that we might be called children of God.

The battle between good and evil has been the topic of discussion for millennia. Philosophers wrote about it, poets romanticized it, armies fought over it, and families turned to Scripture for guidance. What does the Lord say? Do not fear; be bold; be strong: enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice for He has made me glad.