“These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)
In a chapter in the recently published book, Why Suffering, co-author Vince Vitale talks about how:
“We try to convince ourselves with hopeful phrases:
The world is your oyster.
The sky is the limit.
The only thing to fear is fear itself.
You can to anything if you just put your mind to it.
Things can only get better.
Such nice phrases. But here’s the thing: They’re all lies. Everyone of them. They are simply false.”[1]
Jesus was right! Our lives are filled with tribulation. Hymn writer Isaac Watts asked the questions, “Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, to help me on to God?”[2] The Apostle John gave us the answer,
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
(I John 2:16-17)
Every day of our lives we are confronted by the world, our own flesh, and Satan – the arch-enemy of our souls. We may be getting older, but not necessarily wiser. We may be eating healthier, but our bodies are still in the process of dying. We may have made some preparations for the future, but only God knows the future. And that’s where our hope resides – in the very words of Jesus. “In Me you may have peace…I have overcome the world.” Hope for tomorrow resides in our relationship with the Living Christ. Paul told us the answer to our physical, emotional, spiritual dilemma:
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Last week I lost a dear friend of over thirty years. He was ten years younger than me. As I stood by his bed in the hospital, I hoped he could hear me speak to him. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the fact that we must be asking, thinking, and realizing that the Holy Spirit of God has invaded our human spirit to produce the life of Christ in wisdom, power and grace – divine sufficiency – to enable us to be overcomers in this world where we have been placed to represent the God of Heaven. As the Father sent the son, so the Son has sent us to a lost and dying world.
Yes, there is hope! Grasp it. Rejoice in it. Revel in God’s call to you in Christ!
[1] Zacharias & Vitale, Why Suffering? (New York: Faith Words, 2014), p.165
[2] From “Am I A Soldier Of The Cross.”