It does not take much to realize that we live in a fallen world. From the soil we grow our food, to the defiance of a two year old, to the frailty of our own bodies, to the inability for the people of the world to live in peace, we see the effects of sin.
The realities of living in this flawed world can leave our shoulders sagging, and our hopes evaporating quickly.
Each day we encounter the side effects of living outside of Eden …
rejection and isolation
fears and failures
dreads and disappointments
separation and divorce
illness and disease and death
And on a Monday morning, all of it can seem to weigh us, our day, our life down.
But …
John 16:33, in the words of Jesus to his followers (both then and now), tells us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
On the eve of his horrible …
betrayal by Judas
denial by Peter
abdication to judge by Pilate
death sentence by the same people who shouted “Hosanna” just days before
torture by the Roman guards
death on a cruel cross
Jesus was delivering a message of peace, hope and victory.
His message of the reality of the trouble present in this world is not just to his closest twelve followers, but a reminder to us as well, that, quite simply, life is not ever going to be easy in this world.
But, he does not stop there, he declares “I have overcome the world.”
In those five words, the Son of God reminds us that this world has already been conquered. Although His death and rising from it have not yet occurred, He, and therefore we, are the over-comers. Although He has not yet even returned to gather His believers (“when everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:3), we have the hope of eternity without death … or taxes!
Romans 8:37 reminds us that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
He loved us
He loves us
He will always love us!
We are overcomers with Him!
Now, put your dancing shoes on, and overcome this sagging shouldered Monday!
itsawonderfilledlife 