Christian Living

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Since the beginning of time, there has been a mighty conflict. Good striving against evil, right assuaging war against wrong. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, Evil triumphed. When Noah trusted God, Good was the conqueror. And so, through the sands of history the battle continued. Sometimes Wrong was the banner of victory, other times Right was the waving emblem of truth.

But then the fiercest battle erupted on a lonely mountain. Good proclaimed war, Evil fought. It swept the mobs with fury, it twisted the minds of the authorities, it dipped the tongues of the soldiers in mockery and with the heinous crime of all time, pressed a crown of thorns into the Worthy Lamb’s scalp and pounded nails into His flesh. It looked as though evil would prevail. Every last shard of evil in the universe, from the past, in that present hour and to the future, came to watch the victory. With hateful scorn all that evil engulfed the Lamb of God. His shoulders bore the shame, separation and utter agony of all the evil in all the world.

When out of the tumultuous battle a cry echoed. “It is finished!” Like a conquering Lion, the Lamb burst forth. It was done, the battle was over. Evil was eternally conquered. The price was paid. Provision had been made. The work was completed. Satan defeated. Victory won. There will be no more war.

Why then do we who know this victory start wars among ourselves? We stand on front lines against each other and sow discord.

Why?

Was the battle on Calvary not sufficient? When the strongest word of utter detesting disgust is used to describe the act of discord sowing in God’s eyes (Proverbs 6:16-19), why are we so prone to it? Why do we fight against each other when we are called to strive together for the faith of the gospel?

I wonder what would happen if we really stood up and put the cross front and foremost. I wonder what we would be like. I wonder what the power would be behind people who constantly beheld the emblem of suffering and shame. I wonder if we would continue to fight with our brother, or would we prevail in prayer? Would we see more walls and division, or more souls standing amazed in the presence of Jesus?

While striving for excellence and perfection is commendable, when we focus on the doing instead of what has already been done, we begin fighting battles that should not even be. Is it any wonder that it’s the peacemakers who will be called the children of God?

My challenge is that we would put the cross in the center and blazing passion of our hearts–that we may pour contempt on our pride and bring peace to the battles that are not meant to exist.

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