Even two thousand years after His coming, even in the modern world, there was still none like Him among the gods. There was none so feared and hated by them. (Psalm 86:8-13) He had cast them out of the ancient world, and upon their return, they would wage war against Him, against His Word and people. And so the persecution against Christians would be greater in the modern world than it had been in the ancient world, greater than in the days of the Roman arenas. (Revelation 12:11)
But that fact revealed a critical truth: He was, in the modern world, as much as He had been in the ancient, the only antidote to the gods - the only answer. As it was in the ancient world, so too in the modern - in Him alone was the power to break their chains, pull down their strongholds, nullify their spells, and curses, and set their captives free. (Jeremiah 30:8; Acts 2:24; Romans 8:2)
There is no life so far from God that His mercy cannot reach. There is no sin one has committed that is so great that His forgiveness is not greater still; no bondage, no addiction, no chain so strong that it can withstand His power to break it; no past so defiled, so full of guilt and shame, that His power to redeem it is not greater still; and no darkness so dark that His love is not deeper still. (1 John 1:7) He is the light that drives out all darkness, the hope that overcomes all hopelessness, the grace that washes away all sin, guilt, and shame, and the way that breaks open every wall and barrier, and makes possible what was not. His arms are still open, and His love is calling. One only has to say yes to receive it, to receive Him. (Hebrews 10:22, Romans 6:23; Psalm 51:7)
How? It is a simple as opening one's heart and life to the love of God, to give Him one's sins and burdens, one's all, to receive Him into one's life, to let His presence cone into one's heart, His light into the darkness, His forgiveness, His cleansing, His Word, His peace, His Spirit into every part of one's life, to turn away from all darkness, all sin, all idols, and all gods, to put one's faith in Yeshua, Jesus, as one's Lord and Savior, and to begin following Him as His disciple all the days of one's life. (Galatians 2:19-20)
It is as simple as making Him who is the only Lord the true Lord of your life, and Him who is the only True God the true God of your life. (John 3:16)
More Reflection: Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 76:7; Nehemiah 1:5; Psalm 47:2; Hebrews 10:31; Psalm 96:4; Jeremiah 10:7; Psalm 76:11; Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 68:35; Romans 4:7; Isaiah 55:9; Hebrews 9:22; Psalm 91; 1 Peter 1:18-19; John 1:29; Leviticus 17:11; Acts 2:38; Psalm 27:1-14; Romans 6:1-23; John 6:53; Hebrews 12:24;
Note: Text taken from Cahn, The return of the Gods. Scripture references added.
Awesome 3 part series!