
The shooting on the battlefields of the Civil War may have ended, but the fight to unite and heal a fragmented Nation was far from over. Bitter hatred between the peoples of the North and South still remained. Anger over the destroyed towns and ruined economy of the Southern states would not be quickly forgiven. The lost of friends and family members, that now filled to overflowing our Nation's cemeteries remained a constant gnawing bitter reminder. The deep rooted prejudice of whites toward the newly freed slaves, did not end when the last shots were fired, or with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment. Bitterness, prejudice, selfishness, unforgiveness, and resistance to change, these are the armies that still remained stubbornly in the field of America's landscape. The Civil War of cannon and muskets was over, yet fighting or words and hearts refused to so easily surrender.
The last words Christ breathed out on the Cross were these, "It is Finished." Jn. 19:30 What was He saying? What did He mean? Clearly Jesus was saying, the battle had been won. The payment for the sin of the World had been paid. John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God, that takes away, the sin of the World." Jn. 1:29 The Scriptures go on to say, Jesus completely defeated the devil and death by His sacrifice on the Cross. " He cancelled the certificate of debt against us, having taken it away, and nailed it to the Cross. He disarmed principalities and powers. God made a public display of them, triumphing over them through Jesus." Col. 2:14,15. Paul further pressed home this point in the book of Romans, "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus." Ro. 8:37
The war is over, but it is not over. The Christian life in many ways mirrors those years that followed the end of the Civil War. The armies of the Confederate states had been defeated, the South had been beaten, yet open resistance and deadly battles still continued. Likewise, the devil has been defeated, but even so, he continues to terrorize and attempts to thwart the work of God. Even so, The Church will keep battling his forces until the King returns. BUT WE HAVE ALREADY WON! Let us be very clear on this next fact, the payment for our sins has been paid. Paid in full. However, there are many people, still out in the fields, who have not yet heard that Christ has won a victory for them. They have not yet received the Good News. The war against sin, death, and the devil has been won. We are the couriers to take that message.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ." 2 Cor. 2:14
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