Four Cosmic Enemies Jesus Destroyed on the Cross—So Why Does Evil Still Exist?

 

A Divine Paradox Every Christian Must Understand

1. THE LAW - Crucified and Canceled
   "Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us... He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossians 2:14 NKJV)
   Jesus didn't just fulfill the Law—He crucified its condemning power over believers. The "certificate of debt" with its endless demands was nailed to His cross forever.
2. SIN - Defeated and Disarmed
   "He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5)
   Christ didn't merely cover sins—He annihilated its dominion. Like a general capturing the enemy's weapons, He stripped sin of its legal claim over us.
3. THE DEVIL - Humiliated and Doomed
   "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15)
   The cross was Satan's supposed victory moment that became his ultimate humiliation—a divine judo flip where evil's worst act became its defeat.
4. DEATH - Swallowed in Victory
   "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26)
   Jesus didn't just survive death—He reverse-engineered it into a gateway to glory. The grave is now a temporary holding cell awaiting final destruction.

The Burning Question: If these four giants are truly defeated, why does our world still groan under their shadow?

The Barber Who Denied God

A godly man walked into a barbershop, eager to share the Gospel. As the barber trimmed his hair, the man gently turned the conversation to faith.

The barber scoffed. "There is no God. If He were real, why is the world so broken?"

Stunned, the man left—but returned minutes later with a homeless stranger: unkempt, hair tangled, beard wild.

"You’re the best barber in town," the Christian said. "So why does this man look like this?"

The barber laughed. "That’s silly! If he’d come to me—or if someone brought him—I’d fix him up gladly. But no one did."

"Exactly," the man replied. "God has already provided salvation, healing, and freedom through Jesus. But just like this man’s messy hair, the world stays broken because people refuse to come to Him—or lead others to Him."

The Barber's Revelation: Why Victory Feels Distant

The barber's shop encounter holds the key. Consider three profound truths from this story:

1. Objective Victory vs. Subjective Experience
   Just as the homeless man's unkempt appearance didn't negate the barber's skill, ongoing evil doesn't disprove Christ's conquest. The remedy exists—but must be personally applied.
2. The Human Responsibility Factor
   The barber rightly noted: "If he had come to me..." This mirrors Hebrews 2:3: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" God's provision demands our participation.
3. The Community Aspect
   The homeless man needed someone to bring him. This reflects Romans 10:14: "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" We're called to be "soul barbers"—bringing others to Christ's transforming chair.

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Three Reasons Believers Still Struggle

1. The "Already-Not Yet" Kingdom
   We live between D-Day (the cross) and V-Day (Christ's return). Like 1945 Europe after Hitler's defeat but before peace was fully implemented, we battle remnants of a dethroned regime.
2. The Faith Gap
   "This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 5:4)
   Unclaimed victory is like an undeposited check—legally yours but practically unused.
3. The Enemy's Bluff
   Satan operates like a defeated army still flying its flag. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) He has no legal rights but preys on our ignorance.

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Your Triumphant Response

If You're Saved:

• Walk in confidence: "Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ!" (2 Corinthians 2:14)
• Become a "barber" for others—lead someone to Christ this week

If You're Unsaved:

• The chair is ready: "Today if you hear His voice..." (Hebrews 3:15)
• Pray this: "Lord Jesus, I receive Your victory over sin, Satan, and death. Make me new."

The Ultimate Hope:
"He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" (Revelation 21:5)
Every struggle you face today is temporary—eternal victory is guaranteed!