Students of World War 2 have often remarked that although
VE-Day was not until May 8, 1945, in a very real sense the war in Europe was
over on June 6, 1944 — D-Day. In “Operation Overlord” some 1,000 ships — the
largest armada ever to set sail — carried some 200,000 soldiers across the
English Chanel to France where they stormed the coasts of Normandy. It was only
the beginning of a military buildup that Germany could never have stopped.
Anyone watching objectively knew that it was not only a matter of time — not
if, but when. The amassing of such military personnel and materiel, the
relentless crushing of German factories from American aircraft, the ever
narrowing of Germany’s supply lines — all this declared that the difference
between D-Day and VE-Day was just a matter of time. And for this reason many
have said that it was on June 6, 1944, that the war was over.
I suspect, however, that this rather academic assessment of
things differed greatly from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground.
They were still dodging bullets and all manner of military force. They were
bleeding and wounded, many were still dying, and there were still many
harrowing days of the war yet to be endured, even some setbacks. It’s not that
our soldiers in France were unaware of the significance of Normady. I’m very
sure they understood it well, and this understanding doubtless gave them great
encouragement. But from the day-to-day experience of things, this war was still
very much in full swing. The dangers were many — and they were everywhere.
I can’t recall where I first heard this analogy and its
various forms, but in the circles of Christian scholarship the basic observation
is traced back to Oscar Cullmann: There is something about all this that has
close resemblance to Christian experience. God himself has invaded history. He
came as one of us to our rescue and has fought the decisive battle of the war.
In his death and resurrection Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us”
(Heb. 9:12). Final victory has been secured. He has made full and final
satisfaction for our sins, and having successfully completed the work that
saves he has triumphed over Satan. “Now is the ruler of this world cast out”
(John 12:31), the works of the devil are destroyed (1John 3:8; cf. Heb. 2:14),
and Christ has forever secured his elect people for eternal life (John
6:38-39).
But then again it does not always seem that way. We are
caught up in a real battle. Our adversary walks about like a hungry lion trying
to eat us (1Pet. 5:8), and our constant struggles are struggles against him
(Eph. 6:12). He takes people captive, and he is powerfully deceptive,
masquerading even as an angel of light. Satan is alive and well. Like Hitler,
knowing his time was all but up yet launching his last great hurrah at the cost
of so many of his soldiers, Satan, knowing his time is short, is on a furious
rampage against the people of Christ (Rev. 12) seeking to do what damage he
can. And we, the people of Christ, safe though we are in Christ, feel it. And
there are casualties. From the perspective of the trenches, the war is still
on. Sin, temptation, suffering, injustice, sickness, death, loneliness,
disappointment, failure. There are injuries and casualties of all kinds. “Satan
hinders us,” and so does the world. And so does our own flesh.
And in the trenches, if we are not careful, we can lose
perspective. We must never lose sight of the fact that we struggle in hope
and in certainty of final victory. Redemption has been accomplished. It may
not yet have been fully applied. There may be many skirmishes still. But it is
heartening indeed as we recall that D-Day is behind us. And we are assured by
it that VE-Day is ahead. The redemption that Christ accomplished for us will
yet be ours in full experience, with him.
Each time we gather to observe the Lord’s Supper we
“proclaim Christ death — until he comes.” These are the two reference points of
the Christian life, and this ordinance is given us to keep perspective — Christ
has come, and he is coming again. Redemption has been secured, and it will be
fully enjoyed. And in the meantime we are encouraged, as we gather, to
“remember” him as we wait eagerly for him.
It is this gospel-informed confidence that shores us up
throughout the conflict. Our Redeemer has come, and he has won. And one day he
will come again, and the redemption he accomplished for us all will then be
brought to full realization. No more Satan. No more sin. No more suffering. No
more curse. The church militant becomes the church triumphant.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely, I am coming
soon!’” And until he does the impassioned heart-throb of the church remains:
“Even so! Come, Lord Jesus!”
by Fred Zaspel - (PhD, Free University of Amsterdam) serves as a pastor at Reformed
Baptist Church in Franconia, Pennsylvania, an adjunct professor of
systematic theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and
the executive editor of Books At a Glance. He is the author of The Theology of B. B. Warfield (2010) and Warfield on the Christian Life (Crossway, 2014) and has published numerous booklets, articles, and book reviews.
