God Has No Archnemesis

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“‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One” (Isa. 40:25, NIV).

We are accustomed to seeing drama played out in the movies that keeps us on the edge of our seats until the very end. Then finally, that climactic scene reveals the twist that allows good to triumph over evil. Releasing the built-up tension from our muscles, we slump back into our cushioned theater seating, relieved. The representatives of all things noble and admirable have managed to vanquish every threat to the wellbeing of the universe once again.

This construct provides us with regular entertainment and relaxation. However, it fails miserably at giving us a complete picture of the true warfare we must wage in this world. We are, indeed, in the midst of a violent war. Calling us soldiers, the Word of God exhorts us to take up the offensive position with the sword of the Spirit (2 Tim. 2:3, Eph. 6:17). The fighting is happening on all sides, everywhere we go.

We could say then, that our favorite films do sometimes bear some parallels to the invisible combat raging around us. However, something essential is missing from their epic battle scenes. What is it? What critical perspective do they leave out of the big picture?

It’s the lifechanging truth we find in our verse today, Isaiah 40:25. That is, that God has no equal. He has no archrival, no archnemesis. There is no enemy that can, on any day, ever, even measure up to His ankles. Our battles do not parallel those movie scenes because there is no question, at all, of who wins. God wins. Every time.

I know. You can name for me a myriad of circumstances, both happening right now and quoted from the annals of history, where it doesn’t look like God has been winning. However, appearances are often deceiving. To truly perceive correctly, you must look through the eyes of the Spirit. Even though God has temporarily allowed the devil some limited operational space, he is still a crushed, humiliated foe… restrained by a leash. God, on the other hand, has unlimited power and unlimited authority with which to govern the universe. And here’s more bedrock truth that you can stake your life on. God has already won it all.

“Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15, NET).

To whom will we compare Him? Can the slithering, seething, defeated demons challenge His unspeakably glorious throne? The answer is a thundering no. Where His ineffably brilliant light shines, darkness cannot even try to resist. It merely vanishes away.

This is the reason why God calls our conflict with the devil “the good fight” (1 Tim. 6:12). It’s a good fight – an exceedingly good fight – because victory is inevitable. It’s more than that. It’s already accomplished. Jesus uttered the ultimate words of irrevocable triumph when He cried out with His dying breath, “It is finished!”

Remember this next time you are in the thick of the battle. Remember it next time your muscles are tight with tension and you are tempted to wonder if evil might win this one after all. Call to mind this truth: the One who was dead – and is alive forever and ever – has personally handed you His resplendent, eternal victory. He has made it yours! Swing that sword with surety and boldness, valiant warrior. Fight from the revelation that you have already won!

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Although the movies are missing this critical truth about God, Holy Spirit can still sometimes speak to us through film. Have you learned any key lessons about the good fight of faith (or any other subject) from a favorite flick?

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One of the most important ways to acquaint yourself with the infinite might of God is to immerse yourself in Scripture. Check out biblegateway.com for a rich variety of tools to help you get deeper into God’s Word!