HE “MET HIS WATERLOO”

The word Waterloo has entered the English vocabulary as a slang term: meaning that one who has met with defeat, after victories, is said to have “met his Waterloo”

The Battle of Waterloo was fought between the French, under Napoleon Bonaparte and the Allies under the Duke of Wellington in 1815.  Napoleon “met his Waterloo” and was defeated, ending his rule as Emperor of France, and bringing the end to 23 years of war which began with the French Revolution and continued through the Napoleonic Wars.

The story is told that when the battle was over, Wellington sent the great news of the victory to England.  A series of semaphore stations, each within sight of the next, had been established to send messages between England and the continent. The message to be sent was “Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo”

Typical of weather across the English Channel, a heavy fog set in and interrupted the message sending.  As a result, people saw the news “Wellington defeated” and as it was relayed to London and across the nation, gloom and despair set in.  After nearly three hours, the fog lifted and the message was re-sent – “Wellington defeated Bonaparte at Waterloo”  Then all England rejoiced.

There is some doubt as to the authenticity of that story, but it doesn’t alter the FACTS that Napoleon “met his Waterloo” and it certainly doesn’t alter the FACTS of another who “met his Waterloo” more than 2000 years ago.

When Jesus Christ was crucified at Calvary and His body laid in the tomb, many were in gloom and despair because of the message “Christ defeated”

But that message was incomplete.  On the Sunday, when God raised Him from the dead, the full message was received:  “Christ defeated Satan at Calvary”

 SATAN HAD  “MET HIS WATERLOO”

FACT:  From creation of mankind, God desired to have a close relationship with His created beings.  He enjoyed fellowship with Adam and Eve, walking with them in the garden, enjoying their company.

FACT:  Adam and Eve disobeyed God and that fellowship was broken.  God is so pure and holy that He cannot be in the presence of sin.  Sin separates mankind from a sinless God.

FACT:  Because Adam now had a sinful nature, all his children, for all generations to follow, would also have that sinful nature.

Romans 5:12
By one man (Adam) sin entered the world,
and death by sin, for death passed on all men, for all have sinned.

FACT:  God promised Adam and Eve that in due time He would send a Saviour who would reconcile mankind back to Himself.  This promise was repeated many times to many people, with details of how it would happen.

Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a Son and you will call His name Jesus,
for He shall save His people from their sins. 

FACT:  Jesus Christ, being Himself sinless, died, bearing the sins of the world and taking the punishment for sin that was due to us.

Romans 5:6 
In due time, Christ died for the ungodly. 

2 Corinthians 5:19 
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.

1 Peter 3:18 
Christ also suffered once for sins, the Just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin,
to BE SIN FOR US,
that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

FACT:  We cannot do anything about our sin. Jesus is the ONLY way that mankind can be reconciled to God.

John 14:6 
Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.  

Jesus warned – John 3:17-18 
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world . . .
he who believes in Him is NOT condemned,
but he who DOES NOT BELIEVE is ALREADY condemned,
because he has NOT BELIEVED in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

FACT:  Those who have believed in Christ, accepting His death as being payment for their sins, and are living in His power as blood-bought, adopted children of the living God, know and enjoy the abundant blessings freely given by their Father God. 

We know the REALITY of living in fellowship with Him. 
We know the REALITY of His abiding presence; His teaching and guidance;
His comfort and encouragement; His strength and enabling;
His protection and providence; His love, joy and peace in all situations. 
We know the REALITY of being loved by our Father
and the security of an eternity with Him.

SATAN HAS  “MET HIS WATERLOO”

He is defeated – but only to those who have believed in Christ.  Jesus conquered sin and death and the devil and his forces, gaining complete victory for all who would believe and accept His free gift.  

His offer of salvation is open to all and free to all.
You can live in DEFEAT or you can live in VICTORY.

Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.