Intrigue

Wes and I are watching an older series on Netflix. It is a spy drama. One of the interesting things about it, and something that helps to keep our attention – even now that we are in season 4 – is that there is always more going on in the background than what you know in the beginning. Unraveling that back-room intrigue is part of the drama and what keeps it interesting.

There’s always something going on behind the scenes – some scam or ulterior motive.

1 John 2:1 [NLT] My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

As a Christian, if you think your life is all happening on the surface or that what is really going on is all the you can see each day, I’ve got a big reveal for you. Like any good drama series, there are backroom deals going on. There are high-speed chases and hidden agendas. There are potential dangers that may hit you with a bang or may get stopped in their tracks just inches before collision.

Ephesians 6:12 [NLT] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

This passage confirms that there is stuff going on behind the scenes in the spirit world that we don’t even know about. And we are probably glad we don’t know about it.

If you were Job, would it have been helpful at all to know that Satan and God had a couple of conversations in heaven that directly resulting in the trial of your lifetime? [See Job 1:6-12 and Job 2:2-6]

But the unknown things going on in heaven might not be all bad. Could it been that, when the answer to your biggest prayers are not being answered, that there is something going on in the spirit world, similar to what we read about in Danial 10:12-13? Danial 10:12-13 [NKJV] 12 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Could it be that help is on its way, but something not visible to us right now is preventing it from getting to us? It might be a comfort to know that help is on its way – that God has already answered with “yes” to your plea. But maybe it would not be helpful to know that Satan or his minions are blocking it.

God saw fit to let us know about the heavenly “backroom” conversation about Job. He wanted us (and in this case Daniel) to know that help had been on the way from day 1.

In this age, I have not heard of anyone who has been given an actual account of things going on in heaven related specifically to them, their circumstances or their prayers. But we do know that we have an Advocate there in heaven who is pleading our case before the Father.

1 John 2:1 [NLT] My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

If a deal is “going down” there, one related to our sins, our lives, Jesus is on it. So, we don’t have to know about or try to handle it.

While it is good to be aware that there are heavenly battles we are not privy to, and that our Advocate is there to see to it that our interests are served. The best news of all is that an end to all this hidden intrigue is coming.

Revelation 12:7-9 [NLT] Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Good triumphs over evil. Finally. And all that intrigue is put to rest.

Some nights I get weary of all that intrigue in the show, all the hidden agendas, and secrets. I’m not sure I’ll make it through the 8 or 9 seasons.

Sweet sisters, we do not have the option of giving up. We must see our Christian journey through to the end – even if it lasts 100 seasons.

We can be grateful for our ignorance of the unseen battles going on in heavenly places, and also grateful to know that Jesus is watching out for us. Most of all, we can be grateful when it’s all over and good has triumphed.

God speed that day.

I welcome you comments and questions. You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.