Sunday, 8 November 2015
…and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:6
Paul finishes this thought with the continued use of a military metaphor. When an enemy is subdued and the military has gained control over their foe, there are inevitably rebels who still want to continue the fight by attacking the conquerors. They may sneak in and kill one at a time, or they may disrupt supply lines, or even attack directly against the headquarters of the victor.
Though there is little chance of success, they remain disobedient to the terms of surrender in hopes of reigniting the battle and somehow overcoming those who vanquished them. This is the case in the world today. Satan has been vanquished, and yet he continues to send his minions out in hopes of somehow thwarting Christ’s victory.
This spiritual warfare is what Paul is referring to and there is a time when the obedience of the saints is fulfilled and the church age will come to a close. At that point, all disobedience will be punished. Those who have attempted to overthrow the victory of Christ will themselves be overthrown. This is what is coming in the book of Revelation and just prior to His return to dwell among His people during the millennium.
Life application: Though the victory is already accomplished in Christ, there are those who harass and attack His people. This will continue, but all such harassment will end in futility, and all of it will be punished at the right time. Until then, we should pray for those who are our enemies and do our best to witness to them of the truth of Jesus Christ.
Lord God, the victory is found in Jesus. The battle is won and the time is coming when He will reign among His people. But until then, there are still those rebellious toward the Victor and toward those who are victorious in Him. We have a spiritual battle to wage against them until You call us home. Help us to be sound witnesses to the faith, and help us to have the right attitude to bring many out of their rebellion and into the gracious hand of our Victor. Be exalted through our warfare for those who so desperately need You. Amen.