To overcome is to defeat. Thats what the dictionary says. Yes, i looked it up.
Ive overcome a lot. I bet you have too.
We all have bumps, hiccups, and catastrophes in our lives. It is inevitable. Sin is inevitable. We live in quite a sinful and broken place.
I've taken some time lately to think of all I have overcome. It is a lot.
Gosh I am so grateful for the merciful love of God. A type of mercy I am completely and utterly unworthy of. Im not simply speaking of things you or I have had to overcome, because of others or situations out of our control, but of the overcoming of ourselves.
In pondering all i've been brought through and to victories I've tasted there is one common theme...Christ. He, the Rock of my foundation, made the one and only sacrifice that could and would ensure I overcome.
We can think by finally obeying, doing all the right things, and working hard to change our thoughts, actions, feelings, habits, sin patterns and what not that we have surmounted and overcome.
This is not true. Those things are helpful. They are right. But they are merely ants compared to mountains.
Any overcoming, any victory, and defeat of sin is all due to one act. The death of the one true God upon a cross and His resurrection three days later. The death and the resurrection and all of whom God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are. The gospel and so very much more.
Each trial and circumstance i've faced and do face today even the surrendering of my life to him was and is based on this.
It makes things simple.
That thing you can not bear. You are sick of it. You are weary and overwhelmed. There is but a dim shimmer of hope or perhaps none left at all, was dealt with on that cross. It is finished. Sin has been overcome. Jesus defeated death.
I like to think of it as a giant battlefield the King our leader and valiant Lord upon His white horse waving a flag of victory signaling to us all, His secured victory thousands of feet ahead. And we are still fighting tiny residue battles, moving through the ruins and rubble trying to get to our King. Trying to get home to the kingdom.
I hadn't thought about this in awhile. During difficult moments I like to ponder this picture. It helps me put things in perspective. It reminds me that the hard part is finished. That I just need to receive more of Him. I need to do my part to get in line with victory, and move on to advance to His kingdom.
Lets face it we don't fight flesh and blood but the things unseen. Principalities far worse and corrupt then what is seen here. We can't be fooled. I don't think its easy but I do think, know, and believe its simple. I trust in Him, He who has overcome.
There are a few things I need to overcome right now. Oh, how I crave time in the Word and His presence these days. To be transformed, changed, and rid of the nasty little bits of ugly sin in my soul.
But I have peace. My hope is steadfast. If I keep my eyes on Him I won't falter. I won't grow weary. I will walk in righteousness. Abiding in His path of victory.
We will overcome. By the power of His blood. And we will make it home to our King because its not that far away. With each step forward it is glimpsed at and nearer and nearer at hand.
Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Eph. 6:10-18
“...be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God…”
2 Corinth. 4:18
“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
