After a very important time of teaching His disciples, Jesus concluded with these words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn. 17:33, NIV). Similar words are echoed in Revelation 3:21 where Jesus says, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame…” (NIV). The clear encouragement for us in these verses is simply this: No matter what we face in life, let us take heart, for a life of victory is ours in Christ!
In his book entitled The Magic of Thinking Big, David Schwartz tells the story of Colvin Williams who on March 15, 1945 was walking behind the protective cover of a tank in liberated France. Suddenly the tank ran over a landmine which exploded and left Mr. Williams totally blind. But this didn’t stop Colvin Williams from fulfilling his dream of becoming a pastor and counselor after the War was over. After he graduated from college with honours, Mr. Williams said that he thought his blindness “will actually be an asset in my career.” He said, “I can never judge by appearances. Therefore, I can always give a person a second chance. My blindness keeps me from cutting myself off from a person because of the way he looks. I want to be the kind of person to whom anyone can come and feel secure, to express himself.”
Here is an example of what appeared to be a cruel, if not a bitter defeat in life, being turned into an opportunity for God to be glorified and a way for personal victory to be achieved. This is why in the midst of every difficult situation, we must say, “There IS a way forward. There IS a way to solve this problem.” You see, a problem or difficult situation becomes unsolvable only when you think it is unsolvable. The Message translation is helpful here, for it says, “That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (Rom. 8:28). Think of it! Every detail – every situation – becomes an opportunity for God to work something good into our lives. Here we find the key to victory, for an overcomer is someone who knows that with God nothing is impossible!
1 comment:
Good work Bill! I love how God works on our attitudes, and gets us to the place where we can say, "Thank you God for every trial, for every challenge and every hardship, that make me look to you more deeply, rely on your grace, and get to know you more!"
"God is good ALL the time, in EVERY situation, and in ALL circumstances."
I remember when Joanne Fallaise opened her address at her son Thom's memorial service with those words. I was blown away. I am so thankful for the example of women of faith like Joanne, and men, who stare down the challenges of life, and say, "God is good!"
I am thankful that was sown into my life at an early age, and is now one of my foundations. A house built on a rock (Jesus) can withstand any storm.
Ben
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