An Epic Battle
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 (ESV)
Worrying about what’s next is not going to add one more day to our lives. In fact, worry can truly shorten our earthly time and besides, it’s a sin. We can be curious about His return but still move forward in our faith journey, even though the enemy strives to destroy us. We know how this story ends and there is only one ending because Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Tracy Crump (All God’s Creatures) shares a message for us to think about.
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I’d returned to our condo early, leaving the rest of my family to enjoy the beach a little while longer, when my husband called.
“Go out on the patio and look past the crowd gathered on the sand,” he said. “There’s a ten-foot hammerhead shark just offshore.”
Grabbing binoculars, I shook as I scanned the shoreline. A dark, unmistakable shape swam back and forth through the water. Before long, my family returned to the room, all talking at once. As soon as they came through the door, our three-year-old grandson shouted, “We saw a shark!” The details of the battle they described made me weak with relief that no one was injured.
My husband, son, and granddaughter were playing in waves when, not twenty feet away, the hammerhead attacked a huge stingray and flipped it into the air. A battle ensued. My husband didn’t understand what was happening at first, but our daughter-in-law had a better view from the beach and yelled, “Get out of the water!” Another young woman later paddled out to the area on a surfboard. Her video showed the remains of the vanquished stingray with the hammerhead still circling its prey.
Neither the shark nor the stingray was evil. They were just doing what animals do to survive in the wild. But one day, a great battle between good and evil will ensue. Jesus will fight for me and for all who have trusted Him through faith.
Fortunately, Jesus has already won the ultimate victory for me through His sacrifice on the cross, and because of that, I will live with Him in heaven with nothing to fear. Not even sharks.
“Then I saw heaven opened, a behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” -Revelation 19:111 (ESV)
Loving Lord, slow us down to recognize Your presence. You gave it all for us. Our words are not enough; let us give You our best. AMEN.