ENEMY INVASION

Like many of you, I grew up seeing Jesus’ coming to earth as a pleasant, quiet event one evening in Bethlehem.  A gentle baby was born to a young couple one silent night.  However, as I’ve studied the Bible and been involved in spiritual warfare, I now see it quite differently.  To me, Christmas is God’s invasion of enemy held territory.  Ever since Adam and Eve sinned and gave ownership of the world’s system to Satan, there has been a tremendous battle between God and Satan (Genesis 3:15).

This world is under Satan’s control (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 4:8).  If God had not intervened we would die in our sins and belong to Satan forever.  But He did intervene – He invaded enemy occupied territory.  He landed behind enemy lines.  And how did He do it?  With millions of angels?  With a trained army ready to do battle?  No – He came as a helpless baby, born in a cave to a young Jewish couple.  Satan didn’t miss the significance of the event, either.  That’s why he counterattacked by having all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed.  And so the battle continued Jesus’ whole life, culminating on the cross where Jesus defeated all the powers of death and darkness, proclaiming “it is finished!”  The resurrection sealed the victory for all eternity.

So this Christmas remember the baby, but don’t miss the significance. God invaded this world in glory and power and it has never been the same!

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 6:12 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Look at Christ’s coming from the angels’ perspective, God invading enemy occupied territory as a baby.  Praise Him as the angels must have done.