HEBREWS 2:14

“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,”

You may know that I am a University of Georgia football fan. I went to school there and follow the bulldogs during the season. Last week was a special victory over a rival team in the same conference. I can’t say we destroyed them since the game was a close one. We were able to subdue them just enough to squeak out a win. I’ll take it. A “W” is a “W.”

Don’t you just love today’s verse? Jesus came to destroy the devil at his own game – the game of death. Jesus conquered death and the grave and rose again the third day. The Greek word for “destroy” is katargeó which means to totally render idle, to subdue. Jesus threw the devil into neutral. He lost his power over the grave and death. In Romans this word is translated “nullify.” We know that the devil’s ultimate defeat will come later at the end of Christ’s 1,000 year reign. That will be the end of Satan. But right now, Jesus has made him toothless.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

This is certainly a Promise to claim. What better promise could we receive than the promise that Jesus was and is victorious over the devil? And because of His victory, we also walk in victory. Once we turn to Jesus and follow Him, the devil has lost all claims on us. Do you understand what this means? Because your life now belongs to Christ, the devil cannot claim it. You cannot lose something that you no longer have. And he certainly can’t grab anything out of the hand of God, can he?

We see this spelled out in 2 Timothy 1:10, “but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” Isn’t that great? By abolishing death (spiritual death), Jesus brought life. We see this also 1 John 3:8b, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus fulfilled His mission by destroying the prince of this world.

We will all die physically one day unless Jesus returns in our lifetime (and that could happen). I do not fear my physical death. Now, I would love to choose how I go, but the act of death doesn’t frighten me. Why? Because my spiritual death has been abolished. The Lamb of God paid the price for my sins and once I received Him, I was made secure eternally. The saying is true – Born once, die twice; Born twice, die once. Are you ready?

Father, I praise You for Christ’s victory over our adversary and the promise of eternal life with You.