Standing and Overcoming

This morning I opened my Bible to Romans 8, and started reading some of that rich chapter.  There is plenty to reflect upon, but this morning I was encouraged by the following verses - Romans 8:31-35,37-39 NIV:

[31] “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [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? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [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. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?’ 

[37] “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] 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.”

These are such hopeful verses, especially for anyone struggling through difficult times.  Anytime I run into difficult times, I immediately think, even though I know better, that I am being punished for something I did wrong.  So often, I associate difficult times with God’s displeasure, and that is just not true at all.  As Paul writes above, God has justified us through the blood of Jesus, He isn’t going to go back and take this justification away from us when we make a mistake or sin.  Jesus already paid for all of our sins, took every punishment upon Himself.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about this in Isaiah 53:4-6,10-12 NIV:

[4] “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 

[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

[6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 

[10] “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 

[11] After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 

[12] Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

The author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote the following - Hebrews 9:11-15 NIV:

[11] “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. [12] He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. [13] The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. [14] How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” 

[15] “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

Finally, going back to the verses from Romans, the other verse that caught my attention were the following -  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?’ “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  (Rom 8:36-37 NIV). 

Becoming conquerors over difficult situations seems easy to say, but difficult to live out.  Not that this isn’t true, the difficulty comes in believing, and holding onto this truth in the midst of the difficulty.  The enemy works over-time to convince us that since the difficulty comes from God, there is no sense resisting or trying to overcome.  Standing on the truth is key to our ability to overcome.  Paul writes the following in his letter to the Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV:

[10] “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

[13] “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

This morning I am encouraged that overcoming difficulty and struggles is absolutely possible.  They are not from God and He gives me strength to stand, overcome and conquer, coming through to the other side victorious. 

Amen!