"And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15
World War II: the battle between the Allied powers and those of the Axis . . . D-DAY: “For years, Allied leaders and military planners had debated about when, where, and how to land troops in northern Europe. Although plans for such an action had been in the works for years, it was not until December 1943, when General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, that preparations for the future operation, code named OVERLORD, intensified . . . With a small window of opportunity in the weather, Eisenhower made the decision to go—D-Day would be June 6, 1944. Paratroops began landing after midnight as the massive invasion force took station off the coast. A short naval and aerial bombardment preceded the landings, which began at around 6:30 am . . . Things went badly from the beginning for American forces landing at Omaha and Utah. At Omaha beach, the resistance was devastating for the early waves of troops. The landing force bound for Utah was blown off course, resulting in troops going ashore nearly a mile down the beach. American airborne forces of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were scattered behind Utah, sometimes tens of miles off target. To the west, the landings went more to plan for British and Canadian forces."1 God versus Satan: the ultimate world war . . . Satan, once called Lucifer, meaning morning star, rebelled against his Creator, desiring to be like God: Isaiah 14:12-15 tells us how well this worked out: “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’ ” Thrown from heaven to the earth, Satan devised every scheme he could to defeat his enemy. The war between God and Satan was on, but in the Garden of Eden, after Satan deceived Eve into eating of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and Adam’s choosing to sin with her, God promised Satan this future: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3: 14-15 As with the American forces at first, it appeared that things would go very badly for mankind: “Then He (God) said to the woman, ‘I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.’ And to the man He said, ‘Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.’ ” There were consequences for disobeying God! Pain and sweat were promised, and throughout all future years, Satan would be a thorn in mankind’s side, causing much destruction and pain: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” John 10:10 However, in spite of this, there was God’s promise to Eve . . . to us. It is true that with man’s sinful rebellion, death entered the scene, and perhaps Satan thought he had won a victory over God by causing a permanent separation of mankind from Him. But unlike the Allies who planned how to defeat their enemy for years and not knowing the outcome of their attack, God had an eternal plan of defeating His enemy and ours . . . one that would not fail! He would sacrifice His perfect, pure, and innocent Son upon a torturous cross; Jesus would take the pain of all our sins upon Himself and die in our place so that those who accepted His sacrifice would no longer bear the guilt of sin, but appear before the Father as righteous and pure—as clean as newly fallen snow. Victory had been settled . . . In God’s perfect timing, it would be His. Those who fight salvation in Christ search for meaning in this life; some search for formulas to extend their lives—they search for the fountain of youth. Silly mankind! We do have meaning in life when we live in Christ, and we do have a fountain of youth and a stream of everlasting life with His Spirit living within us; and with Christ’s victory on the cross, we have hope and joy in this knowledge! "Despite challenges and sometimes fierce enemy opposition, Allied forces persisted in establishing a beachhead in Normandy.”2 The war in Europe raged on, but ended with Germany's surrender on May 7th, 1945. Despite all Satan's challenges and fierce opposition to God’s plan of redemption through Jesus, e.g. the killing of babies under age two in Bethlehem (Jesus had escaped to Egypt), His forty days of temptation in the desert, and His suffering on Good Friday--Jesus persisted with His heart set on obedience to His Father and established His beachhead on the cross. With Jesus giving us His strength through the Holy Spirit, we can battle whatever persecution Satan may design for us. We may not know God’s timetable, but we do know He is victor. Jesus will one day rule the earth as our peace maker, our sin remover, our eternal life giver, and our KING! Praise God for His promise fulfilled! While Satan may have thought that with Jesus’ death on the cross he defeated God, the true victor became clearly known with Jesus’ Resurrection on Sunday. The battle still rages, but the end-game is settled—God, our Supreme conquering King, has won the war once for all. Let us praise Him for His promise and life-giving sacrifice.. THE VICTORY IS GOD’S! HALLELUJAH! JESUS IS RISEN; HE HAS RISEN INDEED! 1. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/d-day-and-normandy-campaign VERSES: John 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 11:25-26a Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.” Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” John 12:31 “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” PRAYER: Hallelujah! I praise you, Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Let me dance through life because You, God, are a promise keeper. You defeated death on Resurrection Sunday, and now I look forward toward your second coming and the fulfillment of all prophecy. Blessed be Your name forever, Almighty God. Hallelujah! With joy I shout, Jesus is risen . . . He is risen indeed! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Comments are closed.
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Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
December 2022
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