June 6, 1944, 175,000 troops from the allied forces approached a 50 mile stretch of beach on the Normandy coast in amphibious landing craft…as the doors slung down, German mines, rockets, bullets, and shrapnel ripped through human flesh.  The cost was high as over 9000 allied troops were killed that day.  But the front stood strong and more than 100,000 soldiers pressed forward.  That day is commonly referred to as D-day.  They say that day was the deciding fight.  That the war was most certainly one on that day. That if the Germans had pushed the troops back into the ocean, then we would have lost the war.  Everyone knew the war was over and yet battles raged on as troops swept through Europe until VE-day.

God won the epic war that has been waged since the beginning of time.  He won the war decisively by becoming flesh, by triumphing over his enemies on the cross and by raising to new life defeating his enemies, Satan, sin, and death.  This was D-day.  And yet he gave to his church the keys to his Kingdom and promised his return, but until VE-Day we are in the midst of a battle.  And so Paul says, “church, stand strong in Christ!”

Eph 6:10-20 The Bride’s Battle Study Guide