For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
I John 5:4-5
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ… 2 Corinthians 2:14
I am a victorious overcomer!
I’m looking at these verses, staring at the word “AM” and
feeling completely befuddled. Am is a present tense word. The verses don’t promise me someday.
They don’t declare me to be in
progress. The word means in the now, right here, this
minute. Scripture tells me that my God
is a Victorious Warrior, and, as a result, I am, as well. This is not true. I may have had some occasional rare glimpses
of possibility, but nah, I am not an overcomer.
feeling completely befuddled. Am is a present tense word. The verses don’t promise me someday.
They don’t declare me to be in
progress. The word means in the now, right here, this
minute. Scripture tells me that my God
is a Victorious Warrior, and, as a result, I am, as well. This is not true. I may have had some occasional rare glimpses
of possibility, but nah, I am not an overcomer.
Not long ago, I sat at a church dinner held in honor of a
group of young men from the Sudan. These
boys, after watching their parents shot down in front of them, and their homes
burned to the ground, marched across their massive country on foot, traveling
mostly by night, journeying to freedom.
In spite of wild animal attacks, lack of food and fresh water, unmarked
roads, rough terrain, weather difficulties, no maps, and no adult leadership,
they kept going until they crossed into Kenya and found hope, and new life, in
a refugee camp (you can Google the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and read
their story in full). They deserve the
title “overcomer.” My blessed life pales
in the arena of steadfastness, patience, and joyous thanksgiving these true
overcomers exemplified.
group of young men from the Sudan. These
boys, after watching their parents shot down in front of them, and their homes
burned to the ground, marched across their massive country on foot, traveling
mostly by night, journeying to freedom.
In spite of wild animal attacks, lack of food and fresh water, unmarked
roads, rough terrain, weather difficulties, no maps, and no adult leadership,
they kept going until they crossed into Kenya and found hope, and new life, in
a refugee camp (you can Google the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and read
their story in full). They deserve the
title “overcomer.” My blessed life pales
in the arena of steadfastness, patience, and joyous thanksgiving these true
overcomers exemplified.
Yet, as I dig a little deeper into the Biblical definition
of “victorious” and “overcomer,” I think I’ve discovered something. There is a problem with my perception. I look at victory through the lens of the
world, rather than through the eyes of God.
For some reason, his view is much different. How do I know? I recently re-read the story of Gideon
(Judges 6 & 7).
of “victorious” and “overcomer,” I think I’ve discovered something. There is a problem with my perception. I look at victory through the lens of the
world, rather than through the eyes of God.
For some reason, his view is much different. How do I know? I recently re-read the story of Gideon
(Judges 6 & 7).
Gideon, in my eyes (or as the rest of the world might view
him), is a wimp. Hands down. If I had a picture dictionary, his face would
be the one I’d expect to see next to the word fraidy-cat (in his defense, my
picture could be an alternate). During the days of Gideon, the Midianites
ferociously cornered the Israelites.
They frequently attacked, destroying their livelihood, their crops, and
their livestock. God came looking for a
man he could use to lead Israel out of bondage, and for some reason, he picked
Gideon. He found Gideon, busy beating
out wheat…in a wine press. In other words, Gideon, hoping to avoid
conflict, hid in a place where he would be least expected. I don’t think I’d really want to be found
hiding when God came looking for me, but…back to the story. I rather expected the Lord’s greeting to be a
bit stern, but just goes to show I neither know God well enough, nor respond
like him. God’s greeting to this
fatalist? “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior!” Seriously?
Yep, the Lord saw something, I sure didn’t.
him), is a wimp. Hands down. If I had a picture dictionary, his face would
be the one I’d expect to see next to the word fraidy-cat (in his defense, my
picture could be an alternate). During the days of Gideon, the Midianites
ferociously cornered the Israelites.
They frequently attacked, destroying their livelihood, their crops, and
their livestock. God came looking for a
man he could use to lead Israel out of bondage, and for some reason, he picked
Gideon. He found Gideon, busy beating
out wheat…in a wine press. In other words, Gideon, hoping to avoid
conflict, hid in a place where he would be least expected. I don’t think I’d really want to be found
hiding when God came looking for me, but…back to the story. I rather expected the Lord’s greeting to be a
bit stern, but just goes to show I neither know God well enough, nor respond
like him. God’s greeting to this
fatalist? “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior!” Seriously?
Yep, the Lord saw something, I sure didn’t.
What was it? Since
Gideon is listed in Hebrews 11 as one of God’s heroes of faith, I reckon that’s
it. In spite of the fear, in spite of
hiding in the shadows, the Lord saw a glimmer of something capable of
growth: a faith that would result in
obedience. What caused Gideon to turn
the corner? There in a wine press, he
saw a big God, who promised to be with him. In response, Gideon did a little evaluating –
if he had God-with-him, what good were the idols to whom his people had been
clinging? So, he tore them down. Once the idols were removed, Gideon was free
for the Spirit of God to come upon him.
The rest is history…
Gideon is listed in Hebrews 11 as one of God’s heroes of faith, I reckon that’s
it. In spite of the fear, in spite of
hiding in the shadows, the Lord saw a glimmer of something capable of
growth: a faith that would result in
obedience. What caused Gideon to turn
the corner? There in a wine press, he
saw a big God, who promised to be with him. In response, Gideon did a little evaluating –
if he had God-with-him, what good were the idols to whom his people had been
clinging? So, he tore them down. Once the idols were removed, Gideon was free
for the Spirit of God to come upon him.
The rest is history…
Maybe I could turn a corner, too. Being a valiant warrior doesn’t mean an
absence of fear, it means having the presence of God (Emmanuel, God with us –
Christ in me, the hope of glory). Being
a valiant warrior doesn’t mean having all the right experiences, it means
destroying all the wrong relationships with the “other gods” to whom I pay
allegiance. Being a valiant warrior
doesn’t mean I’m capable, it means I’m available…WHEN…
absence of fear, it means having the presence of God (Emmanuel, God with us –
Christ in me, the hope of glory). Being
a valiant warrior doesn’t mean having all the right experiences, it means
destroying all the wrong relationships with the “other gods” to whom I pay
allegiance. Being a valiant warrior
doesn’t mean I’m capable, it means I’m available…WHEN…
So, I feel qualified to stand by the Gideons of this world
and boldy declare that I am, indeed, a valiant warrior, even now, simply
because God has promised me his presence, I’m learning to identify and tear
down idols in the way, and stand (not, necessarily fearless) but available for
when he calls.
and boldy declare that I am, indeed, a valiant warrior, even now, simply
because God has promised me his presence, I’m learning to identify and tear
down idols in the way, and stand (not, necessarily fearless) but available for
when he calls.