Taskmaster or Redeemer?
?The Bible tells us in Revelation 12:10-12, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short’” (NAS).
?There is an interesting opposite perspective working in this passage. On one side, the accuser comes to town, hurling accusations before God day and night. On the other side, the ones getting accused overcome him. These opposite perspectives of accusation and overcoming reveal the problem and the solution highlighted in this passage. The problem is that the Devil has been cast down to the earth; he is filled with fury and seeks to accuse God’s people. The solution is to overcome the accuser.
?It would seem to me that the solution should be to remove the accuser instead of overcoming him. The Devil needs to leave town, toss him out, make him ineffective. The Devil does not fight fair. He loves dirty tricks, lies, cheats, and manipulates to gain an advantage. Yet, God has a different plan. There are benefits for us in living as overcomers of the unfair Accuser.
?Think about it: to be an overcomer means we follow Jesus, and that means we have a choice in the matter. Jesus will not force us to follow Him. Would you want to be forced? Forced means you are told what to do, and you’d better do it the way you’re told whether you want to or not. Follow the rules or else.
?Did God force Adam and Eve to stay away from the tree? Did God put a mote, barbwire, and a force field around the tree? God did not force Adam and Eve to stay away from the tree. God does not force us to follow Him. People can choose not to follow Jesus and still live a happy, full life—at least happy and full by their definition. God lets us choose.
领英推荐
?Jesus will not force us to follow, yet He is also not passive. God will give us an experience with Him where He answers our deepest questions, provides peace in the face of discouragement, hope in times of concern, and real help with the things we need. The way He works in our lives will lead us to get to know Him, thus to love Him and not deny Him. The passage in Revelation 12:11 says of Jesus’ followers, “they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” In other words, they would rather die than deny Jesus.?
?Jesus does not command us to follow His way as a taskmaster with no compassion. Jesus provides solutions, real solutions we can enjoy. He gives us options based on His love. He takes the time to train us to love what He loves and enjoy it! He will not force us; He will let us choose. Yet not as a taskmaster and not as a passive, uncaring bystander, but as an active agent who loves us more than we could ever imagine. He is willing and ready to give us a powerful testimony about living as an overcomer, which includes the healing of forgiveness for our mistakes.?
?God’s people overcome the accuser with the blood of the Lamb. This means they experience the power of Jesus’ love, joy, and peace. They ask for Jesus’ help to trust in Him (faith) and thus receive the love, joy and peace they need to follow Him. Then, Jesus can teach them why the solutions He provides in His Word, that are based on His love, joy and peace, reveal the best options.
?This passage in Revelation reveals that living as an overcomer creates a profound commitment to Jesus. However, the commitment is to Jesus, not to overcoming. As we receive the real help we desperately need each day, He can empower our lives. As He teaches, corrects, and guides, we learn to value Jesus way of thinking. We value how He has empowered us, understands us, has answered our deepest questions, so we would not consider turning away from Him. He is our hope, peace, and joy. We know we need Him. His death on the cross enables us to embrace the power of His love, peace, and joy. He provides the real answers we need to live as an overcomer.
?Choosing to accept Jesus’ death on the cross has the power to change human hearts so that the attacks of the Accuser become harmless. Why would we deny the One that gives us that kind of real help each day? Jesus provides the solutions we need for our problems so we can live as overcomers. In other words, Jesus can empower us so that the Devil does not have control over our lives. We can understand issues clearly. We don’t fall for the accusations that can lead us into a stale, rule-keeping routine with Jesus or lead us to ignore the plans He has for our lives.
?You can have a wonderful testimony of living as an overcomer. Jesus seeks to connect with us each day. Overcoming does not mean we reach a level of perfection so that we qualify for heaven. Salvation is not a competition to win. It means Jesus accepts you, loves you, empowers you with His gifts, and helps you embrace His solutions, which enables you to learn from your mistakes. In that way, even with your disappointments, frustrations, and mistakes, Jesus can lead you to live as one who learns, grows, and loves others. Jesus is ready, are you?