Battle Won, War Still On

Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Jesus until an opportune time.
 
THE battle was won, but the war wasn’t done. The Prince of Darkness was attacking the Light of the World to defeat the Father’s saving plan for mankind. Satan knows God. He knows God’s righteousness and holiness. He knows God keeps his Word. Satan understands his own destruction is sure. But he still dangerously works to do as much damage as he can while he can. During Jesus’ ministry, Satan will often tempt Jesus and wok to close the Jews’ minds against their Messiah’s grace, love, sacrifice and salvation. Demonic activity, hostile crowds, unrepentant sinners and self-serving religious leaders are some of Satan’s tools.  
   In those “opportune times” as Luke described these moments of attacks, Jesus could be vulnerable to disappointment and frustration. As fully man, experiencing mankind’s overwhelming conditions of illness, immorality and religious superiority could have caused Jesus to say, “Enough. I’m not sacrificing my life for such a sinful people. I’m tired. I’m feeling my time is wasted here. I’m ready to go home.”
   Satan wanted Jesus’ heart and mind. But the Righteous One fought each spiritual battle with a steadfast focus on God’s Word. He pursued the Father’s will and found the Father’s strength in times of prayer recorded to have lasted hours into and through the night. Jesus kept his teachings always true to the Word. Instead of being frustrated about mankind’s broken lives, he submitted to serve them with mercy and goodness. He worked the miracles to negate sin’s awful consequences. Jesus forgave the sins against him to show God’s power to transform. He gave life to the words, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
   This, of course, is a true model for us. We can look around to see so many sad, sick and sinful people. It is difficult to minister, especially if you love people. You want them to be well. You long for them to live into the love God promised and demonstrated to them through Jesus. Being weary in ministry is easy when we attempt it without God’s Living Word.
   Jesus commands us to action. “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19a) is a war command, an order from the King. The war is on, and we must get out of ourselves and get into Jesus to fight the battles. The more we become as he is, the more we can withstand Satan’s ongoing assaults on our hearts, souls and minds. The more we become as Jesus is, the greater is our love and the deeper is our confidence that God wins the war.
   One of our sure lessons from Jesus resisting Satan’s temptation is this: Keep your eye on the Word of God. Whatever sin comes against you, you can defeat it with God’s Word. Be wise. Be true. Be constant. Jesus has shown you how. Follow him.