We Can’t Hide
“Gonna make you pay!”
A FAMILIAR SCENARIO. We see it played out on the big screen and in real life. Can you picture the crazed, evil expression attached to the threat, perhaps that of Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson, The Shining)?
SOMETIMES the threat isn’t even spoken. Instead, it’s strongly implied in a silent glare. Or it’s hidden behind colorful language that’s only understood by the recipient. Either way, it sends shivers down your spine. You messed up. You’re gonna pay.
Jesus described this exact scenario, only on a more extensively significant and divinely monumental level that altered our universe. In the upper room with his disciples, He told them, “I will not talk with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has nothing on Me.” John 14:30
The ruler of this world is coming! That just sounds ominous, doesn’t it?
THE RULER of the world. The accuser. The devil. The former mighty and beautiful archangel/cherubim, an equal with Michael and Gabriel, who at one time knew and worshiped the Son in Heaven.
HOW the suspense writer in me pictures it:
Accuser: “I’m coming to make you pay, You holy loser.”
Jesus: “You have nothing on me. What does light have in common with darkness? What does truth have in common with lies?”
(Of course, the threat was insidious rather than blatant, and Jesus did pay, but voluntarily and intentionally, duping the unknowing Accuser. Ha!)
Legal rights
WHO wouldn’t want the legal right to give that reply to a serious threat? He had nothing on Jesus, the man who lived a perfect, spotless life. There was nothing to accuse Him of. But for us, the list of hidden and open wrongdoings is longer than I like to admit.
Why confessing sin is important
ONE Man overcame the doom of Darkness (John 16:33) so we could have back the legal rights God intended upon creation, Genesis 1
Confess it all and receive forgiveness (1John). Any level of denial blocks the divine cleanse.
HOW CONFESSING changes our personal world:
DO YOU FEEL weighed down by constant reminders of your shortcomings, your flaws, your mistakes—all sin. If Jesus took all guilt and shame upon Himself, and He defeated death—the ultimate penalty—are you still listening to the lies and clinging to the shame and guilt?
Jesus knows those who belong to Him.
So does the Accuser (though he’s not equal on any level to the Son of God.) And although the accuser lost his authority, he does have power. Thus, he’s a tyrant, a CONQUERED tyrant.
WE CANNOT FOOL either one. All of our façades and “secret” activities are known by everyone in the heavenly realm Luke8/Hebrews4.
Ouch!
I DON’T know about you, but I’m abundantly thankful that Jesus is the conquering, warrior Lord and King who stands between me and the power-deprived Accuser.
The Amplified version.
“I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.]”
James understood well:
“HUMBLE yourself before God, resist the devil, and he will flee.” James4
Accuser, violent and defeated: “I’m going to make you pay.”
Me, renewed in Christ: “You’ve got nothing on me and no power over me.”
The key is humility. The problem is pride.
How about you?
Are you walking
in the authority
that Jesus gives
to ALL who believe in Him?
(Believer’s authority)
Can you rightly tell the Accuser, “You have nothing on me”?
.
