One of the lies that many Christians today believe is that “the world is getting worse and worse, and all we can do is hold tight to what we’ve got until Christ returns.” It is an absolute wrong mentality in light of the fact that we have a transformational gospel. Such a view of the world around us paralyzes us – when weapons of dynamite are readily at hand for our use.

When Jesus said “It is finished” on the cross, He meant it. All that was needed for humanity to have access to Heaven’s riches of peace and power and healing here on earth – and above all, fellowship with God – was accomplished in Jesus’ death. All. Such assertion by scripture means much more than a ticket to Heaven. It means that Satan has no authority in the life of any Christian – unless the Christian gives it to him (Eph. 4:27).

My grandmother used to have a coffee mug with a cartoon of Ziggy on it that said, “Dear Lord, help me get through till coffee break.” So many mornings I greet the day with this kind of lethargy. “If I can just make it through until ____.”  But because of what Christ has done, my outlook on every new day should be “Who am I going to set free today?” “Whose marriage am I going to help restore?” “What child is going to have a better life because I spoke out blessings over him?” “What bad legislation is not going to pass because my supplications to Heaven were made?”

These are wonderfully exciting times to be a part of God’s kingdom. While the darkness grows thicker, we live with the knowledge that “in the last days, [He] will pour out His spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). We are rising up to meet the foe and saying “We’re not gonna take it” to the forces of evil in all its forms: divorce, disease, corrupt government, child abuse, and sexual perversion.  We battle these works of the devil through prayer and worship and speaking out the truth in love; through righteous acts and thanksgiving and faith-filled proclamations, and with times of fasting and of mourning in our spirits.

“Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). What are we so afraid of?