Off With Your Head

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. (NIV)

        After the fall of man, God made a promise to send a Savior to rescue His people from bondage. This was not a bondage with regards to a nation being enslaved in the mere natural, but a deliverance from the captivity of sin. Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (NIV) God longed to have a more personal relationship with His people as he had with Adam and Eve prior to their fall. Nevertheless, in order to do so, a sacrifice had to be made in order to restore God’s initial plan for humanity. That plan involved sending His son, Jesus, to pay a debt that He did not owe, but was willing to bear, so that man could spend an eternity with the Father. The plans were made. But first, John, Jesus’ cousin, would prepare the way for His arrival and deliver the message of repentance and baptism. Luke 3:4-6 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’ ” (NIV)

        Unfortunately, John would encounter the forces of evil when he dared to come up against King Herod and the wife of his brother, Herodias for their sexual immorality. John 14:3-4 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (NIV) John gave a message that was uncompromising about sin and repentance. He spared no one when it came to speaking boldly for God. However, this did not fair well with Herod and the woman he married. Therefore, Herodias’ daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist after dancing sexually before Herod and his guest at a party. Herod promised to grant her anything that she desired. The merciless killing was carried out and John’s mission on earth was complete. 

         Paul lets us know that we are not fighting against just mere mortals. There is a demonic host that is attacking God’s people to prevent them from carrying out the plans He has for their lives. As warriors for Christ, we must know who our enemy is and not be side-tracked by his endless distractions. John accomplished his mission and that was to prepare the way for Christ to come. We must also complete our mission and that is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world even in the face of death. Matthew 28:18-20 ⁽¹⁸⁾Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ⁽¹⁹⁾Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ⁽²⁰⁾and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

 

        We as warriors for Christ do not have time to fall asleep on the job. There is a battle to be fought! God has chosen us to fight in that battle, but we are not alone. We have His full protection to go up against the forces of evil. Will it cost some of us our physical lives just as it did John the Baptist, the apostles and countless others? Yes! Revelation 6:9-11 ⁽⁹⁾When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. ⁽¹⁰⁾They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood? ⁽¹¹⁾Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. (NIV)

 

However, we will receive a better reward than we could ever imagine here on earth. That reward is an eternity with God who has prepared a place for us. John 14:1-3 ⁽¹⁾“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ⁽²⁾In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ⁽³⁾And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (NIV) A battle is never easy for a warrior, but we have a Commander and Chief who never makes mistakes and will carry us forward in victory if we do not quit. Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)