I'm A What?????
Having a conquering mindset...
In these difficult times, it often very hard to feel victorious in our day to day life - and even more so when we look at our lives moving forward. These days are undoubtably dark, mixed up and inherently ungodly in almost every aspect. At times, it may seem as if we are little candles flickering away in the darkest, deepest of caves - and all about us we feel the coldness of evil. We take each step as it comes. Sometimes we fall, and it is difficult to gain our bearings in the darkness, as our little light flickers about.
But as Christians should we accept this situation? Are we able to position ourselves differently even though things seem insurmountable? Are we able to live differently from those lost in the darkness, who are feebly feeling around for the way out of the darkness? Or are we doomed to follow them?
There are many biblical answers to this conundrum. Today, we're going to look at a couple - for now.
The first answer to this situation is found in John 8:12, which says "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
In this verse we see Jesus referencing his purpose in the world, and for the world. he is the only way for it to escape the darkness that consumes it. His statement "I am the light of the world" is clear cut, and unequivocal. There is no other way we can navigate the world we live in, whilst receiving the future blessings of an eternity with God, and the forgiveness of our sins.
But there is a clarification of his position. He says "If you follow me..." - so our ability to navigate this world, and the darkness that surrounds us is predicated on our willingness to be obedient and follow him, and his gospel. The rest of Jesus' statement hinges on this. Without our obedience to him, and our adherence to 'His Way' there is no possibility that we can get out of the darkness.
Once we are obedient to him, then we can not only receive the assistance that he promises, but we can live it. We "will have the light that leads to life..." - meaning that because the Spirit resides in us, the light of Jesus will shine from within us - out into the darkness. And because of that - we "won't have to walk in darkness..." We will be able to navigate the world, because our feet will be lit by the Spirit, and though we may still slip and fall, the light within us will lead us through the darkness and out of it - and into his glorious light (1 Peter 2:9). Following HIS way leads to life...following the way of the world only leads to death and perpetual darkness.
The second answer to living the world that is shrouded by the darkness of sin and the evil it perpetuates is found in Romans 8:31-39, which says...
Verse 31: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Quite honestly this statement should be enough to strengthen and encourage us - each and every day...but the question remains, why doesn't it?
It is because we don't hold on to it, nor do we keep it in sight - we let it go, and lose sight of it because the circumstances, or the resistance we are receiving from others blurs our vision and clouds our thinking and emotions.
Another reason is that there seems to be so many more against us that for us. But God is above all, and more than all. That should be enough for us to clings tightly to him as we experience trials and tribulations in this life.
But if God is for us - truly - who can be against us? This reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 54:17 where is says, "no weapon forged against you will prevail" - it doesn't mean that weapons won't be used against you, it means that they will not prevail against you.
Verse 32: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
God is our Heavenly Father, that is FACT!!! - Irrespective of how our earthly father has treated us, God is the perfect father.
God gave it all up, in the for of Jesus to provide all of us with eternal salvation.
So, if that is the case - does it not stand to reason that He will bless us with things in this life that are abundantly loving in nature, flowing from an outpouring of his grace and mercy.
And he does this irrespective of whether or not we understand what is going on in ur lives - in fact - I would hazard a guess that most of us have no real idea of what is going on in our lives because if we are walking in his will, only He truly knows where we will end up, and only He knows what we will end up doing in the next season of our lives.
The past couple of years during this "illness" we have seen things change within minutes and hours - so we cannot possibly know how things are going to go in the near future.
But - if God did not even spare His own son to provide us with a way out of the consequences of our sins - surely, surely, God knows what we need now, and what we will need in the near future - and he has already planned how that is going to happen for you.
SO FEAR NOT!!!!
Verse 33: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
I love these next few verses because Paul is just laying it out for real - he is basically saying - "Who...who is speaking against you? Who are they? Are they mightier than God? No they aren't...so don't worry about it...they are just white noise in the background!!!!"
Verse 34: Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Again Paul repeats his refrain from the previous verse....if people are saying things or doing things against us - so what!!! Yes it hurts emotionally, and we react to it...but seriously so what!!!
If God is for us...who can be against us!!! aaaand....
Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God (a place of power and authority, and of guidance) and interceding for us.
So when we pray, and ask God for help - Jesus is there talking to Him and reminding Him of our faithfulness, our love for Him, and that He is the Heavenly Father.
So if God is for us...and Jesus is in his ear talking us up, and saying how much help we need - don't you think that perhaps...just perhaps things are going to work out for us - no matter how crazy and dark everything seems right now?
Verse 35-36: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Now that we have established that no-one can really do anything of consequence to us....now what?
Paul steps right back into the graphic realism he is known for when he says "Shall trouble or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? "
Paul is saying that your life...my life can fall in a heap, and people can be trying to kill us, or imprison us, or we can experience a lack of food and shelter....and yet the love of God will still be with us.
A person can only be truly imprisoned if they let their spirit be imprisoned. If your spirit is connected to the Holy Spirit, then you cannot ever actually be imprisoned because freedom is found in Christ alone.
And because your spirit is tied to the Holy Spirit, you are present with God and his love - ALWAYS - now matter what is happening to us and our families!!!
Now death should not be a point of fear for us either...because in death we will be in God's presence - what is terrible about that? Don't fear those that can kill your body...fear the one who can kill your soul!!! Matthew 10:28 - You need to be right with God...everything else falls in place.
Verse 37: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Now this is perhaps the most powerful and most mis-understood verse in this passage.
Firstly, let's look at what a conquerer is....a conquerer is a person (and by extension and army or opposing force) who attacks, overcomes and then occupies the territory of their enemy. This is not a passive - defensive position. It require actions, consistent, persistent action against an enemy. It requires a willingness to undergo hardship and times of stagnation. This is not a position of weakness. Rather it is a position that requires courage and wisdom at every point.
So, how does this relate to us? Well if we are MORE than conquerers...we are those who are victorious and become the rulers in a new realm governed by Jesus Christ as the Kingdom of God becomes present in this world in the future.
It also means that no matter what we face, we can not only endure those situations, we can become victorious and take back territory (and souls) from the enemy.
Our enemies can stall, retreat, fight, undermine and oppose us in every way possible - but if we are within god's will, they cannot and will not defeat us, or stop us from fulfilling God's will for our lives.
The only person who can derail God's plan for your life is YOU!!!!
Verse 38 -39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now for Paul's "Piece de resistance!!!"
We can face illness and death...will that seperate us from the love of God?....NOPE!!!
We can face demonic attacks....will that seperate us from the love of God?...NOPE!!!
We can face the effects of time and space...will that seperate us from the love of God? ...NOPE!!!
We can be on the highest of mountains or the deepest of ocean trenches...will that seperate us from the love of God?...NOPE!!!
Is there ANYTHING that God has created, in this vast universe that we live in, which can seperate us from the love of God?....NOPE!!!
Paul clearly, plainly and pointedly expresses the view that there is NOTHING in the spiritual realm, or the physical realm that can separate us from the love of God that exists in His son Jesus Christ.
So here's the kicker in all of this.....WHY DO WE FEAR WHAT COMES OUR WAY!!!!
I can ask this question, because I have had to repeatedly ask it of myself.
And I keep coming up with one response....
Because I am - we are - too focussed on the feelings and perceptions of this life to truly know our place in the spiritual realm, and within the Kingdom of God. If we are co-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17) - then why do we not fight with the authority that carries? Why do we not attack our enemies with the strength and endurance that contains?
It is time for us to stand up and fight against the darkness that surrounds us...yes we will receive attacks because of that (and yeah I truly know what that is like) - but God is with us, and we can conquer anything that comes against us, because we are sons and daughters of the King of Kings, and a co-heir with Jesus - the Son of God.
Today, I pray that God grants you the strength, courage and faith to stand, and to fight against the evil things of this world. that he gives your the wisdom to speak and do things that counter the evil that pretends to be the truth. I pray that God protects you against the forces that will array themselves against you. And I pray that you become more than a conquerer in the name of Jesus Christ, our messiah.