我兒子傑夫曾經濫用藥物多年，後來耶穌使他擺脫藥物，得到釋放。然而，我卻仍舊為他擔憂。我們一起經歷了很多事情，有時我還是將焦點放在他艱難的過往，而非上帝為他安排的未來。癮君子的父母常常會擔心孩子會重蹈覆轍，再次陷入舊癮。因此，在某一天的家庭聚會上，我把傑夫拉到一邊，說：「你要記住，我們有一個仇敵，而且牠很厲害。」他回答：「爸爸，我知道這仇敵有能力，但牠沒有任何權柄。」

在那一刻，我想起當我們仰望耶穌時，祂那無與倫比的權柄能救我們脫離罪惡，並改變我們的生命。同時，我也想到耶穌被接升天之前，對門徒說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以，你們要去⋯⋯。」（馬太福音28章18-19節）

無論我們過去如何，那位被釘十字架、死而復活的耶穌，已為我們開闢了一條通往祂的道路。祂掌握著我們的過去和未來。因祂已經應許永遠與我們同在（20節），所以我們能肯定祂會完成祂的計劃，而且我們的生命都在祂的手中，永不失落。耶穌給了我們獨一無二的盼望，而這份盼望是何等美好，所以我們禁不住要與人分享！魔鬼和世界可能暫時擁有一些能力，但「所有的權柄」都永遠屬於耶穌。

Even after Jesus had set my son Geoff free from years of substance abuse, I still had worries. We’d been through much together and my focus sometimes remained on his difficult past instead of the future God had for him. Parents of addicts often worry about relapse, and one day at a family gathering, I pulled Geoff aside. “Remember,” I told him, “we have an adversary, and he’s powerful.” “I know, Dad,” he responded. “He has power, but he has no authority.”

In that moment, I was reminded of Jesus’ incomparable authority to rescue us from our sins and transform our lives as we look to Him. Immediately I thought of His words to the disciples shortly before He returned to His Father in heaven: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go . . .” (Matthew 28:18-19).

The crucified and risen Jesus has made a way for us to come to Him no matter what our past may be. He holds both our past and our future. Because He’s promised to be with us always (v. 20), we can be assured that He’ll accomplish His purposes and that our lives are in His unfailing hands. Jesus gives us unparalleled hope, a hope so good we can’t keep it to ourselves. The devil and the world may have some power for a little while, but “all authority” belongs to Jesus forever.