It is Finished

I know I've mentioned these sermons a lot and have made some recommendations, so this might be redundant, but it's worth repeating.

If you've never listened to Mark Driscoll's 4-part series on Spiritual Warfare, I highly recommend it. I'm sure there are other sermons/books/discussions out there that would have the same impact, but speaking from one I've personally listened to, this was the best, clearest, simplest picture of how spiritual warfare works in our world..in our lives.

What I personally found helpful about this series was how black and white it makes Jesus' work and the work of satan.

Because it's not gray. Jesus said you either belong to me, or you don't (Mt. 12:30). Yet somehow we, I've, made it gray.

We wake up in our cozy homes with our precious families everyday on a battle field in the midst of the greatest war humanity has ever been a part of...and yet we take it lightly...we somehow forget (me, included)???

Yesterday (if you're local. you've seen the news) an amazing young man of God was senselessly murdered in his own home, in broad daylight, while he was home from college for the holidays. It does not to appear to have been a robbery, but yet a troubled, older man simply had planned to commit suicide and thought he would randomly murder this boy before taking his own life.

If you didn't know this kid, Dustin, I wish you did. He was outstanding. Jason had the privilege of coaching him for many years at Siloam and used to come home telling me how he could only hope our kids grew up with Dustin's character and fire for the Lord. He was unwavering. He was also a 4.0 pre-med student at Baylor University.

And yesterday afternoon, he was the product of pure evil. Yes, God knew this was going to happen (becuase He is all-knowing). No, God's plan was never for any of us to die at the hands of evil. But God knew the battle that raged...so He sent His Son to die in our place...to be the ultimate victory.

The worst day in human history happened the day Jesus was crucified. Yet, three days later, God raised Him to glory; He took the worst day in history and three days later made the most GLORIOUS day in human history.

What Satan intends for evil, God uses for good...(gen. 50:20).

Yesterday was a black and white picture of the battle we're in the midst of everyday...even our children. We are all subject.  Evil is lurking, but Jesus reminds us to take heart because He has overcome the world. Praise the Lord He sent Jesus on Christmas Day into our world to save us in this battle....CHOOSE HIM. Everyday, choose Him. Pray for his armor. Pray it over your children. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be fully activated. Pray without ceasing.

This is the real deal.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, EPH 6:12.

I've heard some comments about how Christmas will forever be ruined for this family and how the holidays will always be a painful reminder.
Yes. I'm sure for years/lifetime to come the sadness will run deeper than you or I can even fathom.
However, I told Jason last night what a sole, perfect HOPE to cling to every Christmas...that this was the DAY God decided to place His own Son in the midst of this battle to save us. To save Dustin when he's be the victim of pure evil. To save me. To save you if you've made Him Lord of your life. At the end of all the parties and festivities, Christmas is about one thing:
"For God so loved the World that He gave His son...".