Tug of War

"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel."Zechariah 3:1-3

Here is a picture of Joshua, the high priest, in filthy rags! A chosen vessel of the Lord standing in the midst of the angel of the LORD and satan himself, but note the LORD rebuked satan! Not once but twice. And notice, he said, "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" In essence He was saying, "Joshua is mine. You cannot have him! He's been pulled out of your clutches! Go away!"

He doesn't stop there, "And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." (v4)

Isn't that incredible!? He took away Joshua's filthy rags and he clothed him with raiment! This is exactly what Jesus does for us!

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ, we trade our filthy sin for His righteousness by His blood covering!

Jesus warned Simon saying, " And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32 Satan also desires to sift us; to try us, beat us down and cause us to stumble & fall, but Christ in His great Love and mercy says, "I have prayed for you."

Joshua had the angel of the LORD by his side and was defended! We have Christ covering and His intercession!

We are in a daily spiritual battle. Good verses evil. The Living God verses satan. Our flesh against temptation. We, in ourselves, are incapable of Victory over anything. However, in Christ we are changed from filth to beauty. Dressed in royal attire and protected in His Love where nothing can harm nor tempt us beyond escape.
Do you belong to Christ? Have you made the trade from filthy rags to the sweet covering & transforming beauty in His righteousness? Are you protected against the wiles of the devil? You don't have to fight this tug of war alone. You weren't made to!