I really enjoyed having Paul Alvarado, Director of Spectrum Ministries in Mexico, come and share at church in June. It was very encouraging to hear the message he gave about loving others in tangible ways. It was also fun to have the opportunity to talk with him a bit.
I had an interesting conversation with him while he was here that reminded me of a spiritual analogy. He told me that there are certain parts of the Mexican border that are controlled by organized crime. There are gaps in the fence between the United States and Mexico where people can cross the border from Mexico into the United States. Cartels have taken advantage of this by charging $1500 dollars a head to go through these gaps in the fence. If someone was strong enough, they could overtake the cartels, but the cartels have powerful guns and are highly organized. Their strength gives them power over whether people can enter or not, and they take advantage of it. Right or wrong, there are certain situations where people or groups simply use their muscle to their own advantage.
When Jesus was on earth, He taught in Mark 3:27, “no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.” Here, Jesus refers to Satan as the “strong man” and to Himself as the One who enters the house and plunders the place. In order for Satan’s domain to be “plundered,” he must be incapacitated. Jesus came to earth, to what is essentially Satan’s “house” (1 John 5:19), in order to bind Satan and plunder his “goods” which are the people that Satan holds captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26).
Jesus has entered this world and bound up Satan. Jesus has, “canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross” (Colosians 2:14-15). Jesus has disarmed the “strong man” that prevents us from entering a relationship with God. Through trust in Jesus, we are free to enter the arms of God and enjoy eternal life with God. Overcoming sin, Satan, and death is never something we could do on our own strength. Praise the Lord that our omnipotent God has overcome the strong man!