Behind Enemy Lines“Having disarmed principalities and powers [when He entered the pit of hell, Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in [the cross].” (Colossians 2:15) In the 2001 movie Behind Enemy Lines starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman, an admiral goes against orders to rescue a navy aviator who is shot down over enemy lines in Bosnia. This search and rescue mission parallels a greater rescue in the Bible in which we are the ones who are stranded in enemy territory. We have lost our focus and our way, made wrong turns known as sin, wandered away from safety and protection, fallen away from the glory of God into enemy hands, and many of us have been taken captive by our enemy the devil. Yet, while we were prisoners of war or are about to be captured by the devil and his demonic crew, God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to the rescue. Just as U.S. soldiers risked mortal danger in rescuing the downed pilot, Jesus also entered into enemy territory, penetrating deep behind enemy lines into the pit of hell to deliver us from evil. Jesus gave His life on the cross so that we as sinners could be saved (Romans 5:8), have an abundant life (John 10:10) and because of His special operations, we can be saved from our sins and from the enemy of our souls. Those of us who are born again who have followed the plan established by the great Deliverer have been redeemed or rescued by the sinless and precious Blood of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:18-19) Many of us still have friends and family behind enemy lines but the good news that we must share with them, and indeed to the nations of the world when we preach or finance the gospel of salvation is that the mission to rescue ALL who are held in bondage to sin, sickness, witchcraft, sexual perversion, idolatry, poverty and oppression has been accomplished by Jesus (1 John 2:2). This priceless gift of salvation must be accepted to be enjoyed and the conditions of acceptance are faith in the Word of God (Hebrews 11:6), repentance of the wrong turns or sin that we have committed (Acts 17:30-31), confession that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism for the forgiveness of sins so we can receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). To perfect our salvation, we must renew our minds as we walk in the light by meditating on the Word of God day and night. (1 John 1:7) The whole world is a battleground for human souls in a war of good against evil with billions including our loved ones still trapped behind enemy lines, and it is indeed our calling, our commandment and our mission to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.(Mark 16:15)Copyright © 2003 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved. Subscribe/Unsubscribe: eddyn@earthlink.net
|