For my high school graduation, the organizers asked each graduate to choose a Bible verse to be read while the graduate and his or her parents met in the middle of the stage and exchanged a rose for a diploma. (The rose was given by the graduate to the mom in thanks for her years of homeschooling; the parents presented the diploma to the graduate as proof of high school graduation. I’m pretty sure I got the better deal in the long run.) For my verse, I selected 2 Timothy 4:18: “The LORD will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.”
I’ve always liked the verse. Maybe it’s just that I’ve seen a lot of spiritual warfare in life. Maybe it’s that I have learned by experience that the Lord does, indeed, protect His own and rescue them from the wiles of the devil. Maybe I like the idea of praising God for His love and protection. Maybe it’s just that I liked the song I learned as a child associated with the verse.
Recently, I learned that the word translated “rescue” is the Greek word “sozo.” It’s a fascinating verb that can mean “healing,” “deliverance,” or “salvation.” In the Scriptures, it’s often used to indicate someone being totally and completely set free, healed, and delivered.
So what this tells me is that God not only “rescues” us (or saves us, or delivers us) from “every evil attack,” but He also heals us from every evil attack. That’s a beautiful thing. It’s easy to get weary in the battle, or even get wounded. But He heals us. Yes, physically. Yes, emotionally and mentally. Also, He heals the wounds and trauma from the spiritual battles we face.
When you’ve been through a spiritual battle (or maybe a few), God does more than just get you out of it (though He’s very good at doing that, too). He also heals you. He completely restores you, so you are 100% saved, delivered, and healed from your encounter with evil.
