Thursday: A Lost Cause
All through history, humans have engaged in warfare. Something in human nature causes the people of one group to want to plunder, pillage, and slaughter those of another. In a book about her father, British philosopher Bertrand Russell, Katherine Tait wrote about her father’s concern at the outbreak of World War I regarding the joy in the streets of England at the prospect of war with Germany. “He had grown up with an optimistic Victorian belief in automatic progress, with the confidence that the whole world would, in its own good time, follow the wise course of the English from ancient brutality to civilized self-government.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Then, suddenly, he found his own beloved compatriots dancing in the streets at the prospect of slaughtering great numbers of fellow human beings who happened to speak German.”—My Father Bertrand Russell (England: Thoemmes Press, 1997), p. 45. Multiply this same idea over history among almost all people, and we see the reality of fallen human nature in one of its most consequential and tragic forms.
Now, in most of these human wars, no one knew the outcome beforehand. People went to battle not knowing if they would be on the winning or losing side.
In the “Warfare Worldview” of our cosmos, we have one great advantage: we know which side has already won. Christ has won the decisive victory for us. After the Cross, no question remained about who is the Victor and who can share in the fruits of that victory. Satan’s cause is, indeed, a lost cause.
What do the following texts tell us about the outcome of the great controversy? Heb. 2:14, 1 Cor. 15:20-27, Rev. 12:12, Rev. 20:10.
Just as Satan lost the war in heaven, he lost the war on earth, as well. But with hatred and vengeance he’s still seeking all whom he may devour (see 1 Pet. 5:8). However complete Christ’s victory, the battle still rages, and our only protection is to place ourselves, mind and body, on the winning side. And we do that by the choices we make every day. Are we making choices that put us on the winning side, where the victory is assured for us, or on the losing side, where defeat is certain? On the answer to this question our eternal destiny hangs.
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One of the quotes over many years says you may lose the battle, but win the war. When World,War,2 ended there were two theaters of war. Both suffered defeat. The battles do not continue. Did Jesus win a battle or the war? If He won, why is a battle still be waged? Or is it? A generous supply of answers are available.
Although it is a good idea to come up with metaphors to depict the Great Cotroversy, earthly wars do not give us a clear image of what spiritual war is like. Jesus won the decisive battle that sealed the destiny of 'him who has the power of death' Heb 2:14.The question whether which side is going to win has been answered on the cross. Col 1.22, Rev. 1.18.
Now, why is a battle still be waged? that's an interesting and sensible question. One of the easiest way of answering this questions is that God wants His children to be partakers of the victory, not just by inheriting the victory but also through battling and winning because 'they overcame him [the Devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death' Rev. 12.11. The battle now is about us, about our heart. Are you going to be partakers of the coming kingdom or are going to be with the losers. Our everyday activities give us a clue of the choices we make. The invitation has been made. All we need to do is accept or decline. I'd rather go with Jesus.
Brother Paul, with faith and trust in Jesus I believe that the war has been won. Just go through the lesson and you can be encouraged with the Scriptures that have been shared. The battle is in the choices you and I have to make everyday. Soon Jesus will make Satan and his agents his footstool. (Psalms 110:1) God bless.
Jesus won it all because He paid it all for us Satan is a loser and his final punishment will come at the end of the1000 years
Praise the Lord
Amen true
I am trill to know that Christ won the war for us and the devil has not power over us unless we walk outside of God' path. The devil cannot do anything to make us fall in to temptation if we abide in Christ, unless we voluntarily give in to his deception. May the Lord help us from falling today and always! Amen
Esther
In the lesson we are told that “People went to battle not knowing if they would be on the winning or losing side". For sure they were fighting not knowing if they will win or lose. Now let's look at this passage again from our lesson “ However complete Christ’s victory, the battle still rages, and our only protection is to place ourselves, mind and body, on the winning side. And we do that by the choices we make every day. Are we making choices that put us on the winning side?” Brethren who wouldn't want to be on a winning side??? fighting a fight knowing that you are winning that only happens in christ power. And in christ only we are winners.
Yes victory today is ours through THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!! Satan is fighting in vain moreover his destiny was finalised from the day he was cast down on earth.Thank you Jesus for Your precious blood that cleanse a crimson stain.Amen!!!
Yes victory today is ours through THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!! Satan is fighting in vain moreover his destiny was finalised from the day he was cast down on earth.Thank you Jesus for Your precious blood that cleanse a crimson stain.I choose to follow Jesus as He is Victor through Him I'll obtain eternal life not a liar who is the devil and a loser Amen!!!
We must establish an unyielding enmity between our souls and our foe; but we must open our hearts to the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. . . . We want to become so sensitive to holy influences, that the lightest whisper of Jesus will move our souls, till He is in us, and we in Him, living by the faith of the Son of God.
We need to be refined, cleansed from all earthliness, till we reflect the image of our Saviour, and become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”Then we shall delight to do the will of God, and Christ can own us before the Father and before the holy angels as those who abide in Him, and He will not be ashamed to call us brethren. But we shall not boast of our holiness. As we have clearer views of Christ’s spotlessness and infinite purity, we shall feel as did Daniel, when he beheld the glory of the Lord, and said, “My comeliness was turned in me into corruption.”We cannot say, “I am sinless,”till this vile body is changed and fashioned like unto His glorious body. But if we constantly seek to follow Jesus, the blessed hope is ours of standing before the throne of God without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; complete in Christ, robed in His righteousness and perfection.—Signs of the Times, March 23, 1888.
Listen to the words of Paul in Rom. 8:35-37 "Who shall separate us from the love Christ? shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine,or nakedness,or peril or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Ps. 44:22) Yet in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us"
What a statement, what a promise! nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Many good comments. The thoughts that we have regarding the possibility of an ongoing battle between Christ and Satan are real to the extent that in Ephesians 6:12, is a very familiar verse to us, and continuing onto Eph. 6:13-20. They certainly were, and still are, applicable today. Every individual that Paul called the brethren Eph 6:10. That is you and me. This is the individual struggles, that we face not by choice. Some may picture this on a grandiose scale. As noted in Ephesians, it is one after another on an individual level. The notation and question in Fridays lesson paragraph 3, is similar to the thoughts that I had. The answer is obvious. Isaiah 55:8,9.
The battle is of the lord o God help us to win the battle as you won.Indeed the lord is our winner n flag
Victory for the churchgoer is not a given/sure thing.
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
You are right Jim Bob. Victory for the CHURCHGOER is not a sure thing. But victory for the CHILD OF GOD is indeed a sure thing.
Response to Katherine Tait use in article.
They were dancing in the streets
and later....crying at funerals.
Battle of Somme..in France
It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the River Somme in France. It was one of the largest battles of World War I, in which more than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.