Wrestle to Win

Most Christians recognize the tangible truth of Ephesians 6:12:  "...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."  In his younger days my brother used to wrestle competitively.  Combatants were paired with people of similar weight.  Brute strength was not as important as good technique and tactics.  In the spiritual battle which all Christians face, people take various approaches.  Some act like cocky street fighters, looking to pound the devil into submission.  Others are reticent and timid, desiring to hide from any potential confrontation.  Neither of these extremes seem to take into account the balance between our identity as overcomers contrasted with our need for humble reliance upon Christ.

If I'm going to wrestle, I want to wrestle to win.  I don't want to wrestle against forces of darkness as a spiritual exercise.  I don't stay fit spiritually to throw in the towel if the fight becomes taxing.  So how do we win?  I believe the most fundamental, guaranteed principle for victory is pictured beautifully in an Old Testament passage which I read this morning.  Let me set the stage:  after Ahaziah king of Judah, his mother Athaliah killed off all the king's offspring so she could reign.  Nice grandma, huh?  Little Joash, one of Ahaziah's young sons and heir to the throne, was saved and secretly raised in the temple.  After six years passed, seven-year-old Joash was crowned as king by Jehoiada the priest.  We pick up the passage in 2 Kings 11:12-16:  "And he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!" ¹³ Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the LORD. ¹⁴ When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!" ¹⁵ And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, "Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of the LORD." ¹⁶ So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses' entrance into the king's house, and there she was killed."

Athaliah was a usurper who ruled for six years with cruelty.  She remained in power and authority until the rightful king was crowned and established.  Joash stood by the two pillars in the temple which Solomon named Jachin ("he will establish") and Boaz ("in him is strength").  After the true king was in place, justice which had long been waiting was issued against Athaliah.  She was taken outside the temple and slain as well as all who remained loyal to her.  This is a picture of the condition of the world.  Satan, the prince of the power of the air through his subtlety and deceptions, holds claim to the earth.  When he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he offered to hand over the earth if Christ would bow down to him.  Satan worked to destroy Christ and labours still to defeat all who trust in Jesus as Saviour.  But Jesus rose from the dead and will come again to set up His kingdom upon the earth.  Satan will be thrown out and be ultimately destroyed, even as Athaliah was carried out and killed.

What is true in a world-wide sense is also true for every human heart.  Every person is born a slave of sin and is the property of this world and its ruler, under the curse and death.  When we confess our sin and repent, trusting in Christ to save us, we are cleansed and the Holy Spirit enters and indwells each heart.  The children of God are the temple of the Holy Spirit purchased with the blood of Christ.  We wrestle against the sway of the world, the power of Satan, and the desires of our own flesh.  The only way we can be victorious is when we set Christ in His rightful place on the throne.  Romans 16:20 rings true for all those who have overcome through the blood of the Lamb:  "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."   Like Samson ripped the lion which roared against him in half, our God is able to deliver us from the snarling enemy of our souls.  The skirmishes continue, but the battle is already won.

The day of ultimate deliverance and victory cannot happen soon enough!  But while the LORD tarries in heaven at the right hand of the Father, He has not left us helpless.  He bids us stand strong and wrestle, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and rulers of wickedness.  We can only succeed when we lean not on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge our Saviour Jesus Christ.  God has established Him above all, and in Him is strength.  Place Him on the throne and rejoice in Him!  He does not save us so we can save ourselves:  we must continually, completely, rely upon Him as our King.  I close with Revelation 19:11-16:  "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Shout for joy, those who have formerly been oppressed of the devil!  Your Redeemer lives and draws nigh, even into your hearts.  He comes quickly and His reward is with Him!