From the Morning Scriptures

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.

They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”

–Revelation 7:7-12 (TNIV)

In vivid apocalyptic language John tells us what God has done about the problem of evil. He has overcome it by the blood of the Lamb!

“But wait!” you say, “Evil has not been conquered. Take a look around you!”

True enough.

But we live in the “already-not yet” time. God has overcome evil through the cross of Jesus and will finish his redemptive work when Jesus returns again in power and glory. That, in part, is what the book of Revelation is all about. We have to trust God to be true to his word.

But we who profess to be Christians also have to get busy while we are awaiting our final redemption. We have to roll up our sleeves and start living as Kingdom people. The cross of Jesus Christ is the symbol of God’s justice–thanks be to God!–and we who profess to follow him must embody those values.

In practical terms, this means that we are to extend mercy when none is warranted because we have received mercy. It means we are to be deeply concerned about the most helpless in our society–and do something about it. I don’t know what your particular call is, but God does, and each of us needs to listen to him so that we know our marching orders.

The story of Revelation is about the End Times and the impending New Creation. It is a story of triumph, God’s triumph over evil through suffering, humility, service, and love–not the sappy, sentimental stuff, but a love that desires the best for its beloved and understands that these are the means by which we receive the best love has to offer.

If God loves his creation and intends to redeem it at the End Time, then we who profess to love God must do our part to help him bring about his Kingdom. Make no mistake. Only God can bring about his Kingdom fully. We cannot do so. But we can do our part by loving God and neighbor, by living the Kingdom values as manifested in the cross of Christ.

Are you ready and willing to do your part? If you are, it will be very hard and you will pay dearly for it. But God promises you that your suffering will be only for a season. There will be a better day, a better eternity awaiting you.