War

There is a war. This war is like all wars, bloody and violent, born out of corruption and selfishness. This war has been fought on multiple continents, involving all ethnicities, lasting for decades, centuries, even millennia. Each side has a leader: one leader represents all things beautiful: hope, justice, redemption, healing, forgiveness, humility, peace and life; the other leader represents all things despicable and hostile, putting selfish greed above all, using manipulation and coercion to deceive others into submission, turning good into bad, twisting the truth, this leader is divisive leading to death and destruction.

The two leaders went head-to-head (or heel-to-head).

The evil leader had this unquenchable blood-thirst; the onlooker would have perceived that the evil leader had won, had crushed all hopes of peace and redemption.

Something happened while the evil leader celebrated, the good leader redeemed all and offered grace for all. The one that had succumbed to such a violent act had actually won. Through his life and his death and through his life after life after death he offered redemption, restoration, hope, peace, justice, grace, forgiveness and love for all.

The Scriptures say:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The key leader has been defeated, although not destroyed or done away with. He still believes that he has a chance. His outposts still fight this war, this war that has already been won. They continually fight against peace and life, they desire death and destruction for all.

Jesus brought hope and grace for all of humanity. Followers of Christ must offer the same. So go and do likewise.