To Reconcile All Things

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

I John 3:8 

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  

Colossians 1:19-20 

How successful will Christ be in fulfilling His purpose to destroy the works of the devil? He will be extremely successful. If we look at some of the verses that precede the portion of our text from Colossians, we see indications of this success. Paul remarks that God the Father has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. He goes on to say, ‘He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.’ After a glorious description of Christ, He prefaces our text with, ‘that in all things He may have the preeminence.’ Christ must have first place. The ramifications of this are massive in relation to His overall purpose to destroy the works of the devil. Satan sought to destroy humanity, God’s highest creation. Christ came to redeem that humanity. He will succeed to the extent that at the Throne there will be, ‘a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues.’ There is a strong case for there being more saved than lost. In addition, there is a description of the redemption of the whole of creation, sorely affected by the curse of the devil’s work. Christ will be wildly successful in accomplishing His purpose. We are the beneficiaries of His success.  

Our Victorious, Living Christ, 
we rejoice that You will succeed in every way. 
We praise You that we have the privilege  
of seeing Your plan unfold.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning