The Destroyer

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 Two days ago, my very good friend Bryon, his daughter was killed in a car accident while traveling. She was 21. Bryon became a Christian two years ago, and all praise to the Lord, he used Bryon to lead his daughter to Christ a little over a year ago. She is now standing with the King of Kings. Bryon is a man that loves God, constantly searches the scriptures, and longs to be closer to the Lord. Yesterday, when I saw him at church he was smiling, he was not putting out a facade, and at times you could see the emotion of loss begin to break through. All he wanted to do, was to praise God, and be in His presence.

To a lot of people this may seem strange and foreign. But, if we allow ourselves to be taken captive by the enemy, through all that comes against us, where will we end up. Satan came and he stole from that family, but Christ came to give us life, and more abundantly. But, we have to pursue it. It cannot be just a spoken word, it is a decision and an action that no matter what may come we will hold fast to the Lord and have His word and praise on our lips continually. It does not mean that we do not mourn, or feel sorrow. But, we do not allow for the enemy to overtake us and nullify us.

Bryon is experiencing life more abundantly, because He is pursuing Christ with all his heart in the time of loss. James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." When we fall into times of trial, and the enemy comes against us, it is amazing the complete overflow of joy, peace, and comfort we can experience if we focus on Christ and allow Him to remain our first love. We will grow in Christ in ways that we would not otherwise. Thank God for the book of Job, because we are privy to a conversation that Job was not. Satan is the destroyer, the tempter, and then when we give into him, our accuser. Praise be to the Lord of Hosts that we have victory over him through our Lord Jesus Christ and He is our deliverer and defender.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We must all become as Bryon. In all things we should seek the Lord earnestly, no matter the situation. With all that we see happening in the world, we have understanding that the times are getting darker. So we MUST SHINE BRIGHTER!!! Persecution may come, trials, loss and death, but if we remain in Christ we will be as the Church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." 

Polycarp was one of the early church fathers in Smyrna. Yearly, every citizen had to put a pinch of incense on the alter, and declare Caesar is Lord, then they were allowed to worship whatever God they pleased. Many people tried to get him to do this because they liked and repsected him. Polycarp refused and responded, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior" He went to the stake willingly, and in losing his life, he found it.

We all are called out of this world, we are the Ecclesia. Our life, our mission, our purpose is Christ. He must be our first love. If Christ is the center, our focus, I promise no matter what happens in this life, He being our first love will give us perfect peace, Joy that overflows and life abundantly. And we will be able to speak true life into this world.

Romans 8:31-39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.