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Suffering appears to be inevitable within our world. Every news report contains evidence of the suffering that is administered through the world. But at the same time, the church claims to be victorious. How can this be? How can there be victory in the midst of suffering? The Word of God appears to contradict itself many times because of the connection between suffering and victory. But the world does not share our view, instead the world regards the church as foolish and archaic. 1 Corinthians 1:18, states that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God". (NIV) Paul writes to the Roman church in chapter 8, that we shall have trouble and persecution, we shall face famine and nakedness, as well as danger. But this shall not separate us from God's love. In fact, Paul states that we will face death all day long as sheep to the slaughter. But in spite of these things, he states something that does not make sense to the world...we are more than conquerors!
You are more than a conqueror! This is good news but does it make sense? In 1 John 5:4-5, the apostle writes that "whoever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith! And who is the one who conquers the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God". In other words, our first step to having victory is to have faith that Jesus is the Son of God. And if we believe in Jesus, we must believe that we have victory through the cross and accept the suffering that comes with that belief. 'Wait, Pastor...suffering? How can this be since we are children of God? You just said we have victory!' Yes, this is true, but Jesus tells the disciples in John 16:33, "I have told you these things (about His suffering and impending death) so that in Me you have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous. I have conquered the world". Why must we suffer? If we are to be Christ-like, we must understand that the victory he achieved came at the expense of His life. Christ suffered for us to achieve victory for us.
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him..." (2 Tim. 2:12a) - When we become Christ-like, we too shall suffer. Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them because it hated Him first (John 15:18). The world system is hostile to the child of God because of the victory Christ achieved through the cross. The child of God is the most visible representation of Christ to the world, thus he/she becomes the target of hostility. Think about it, why does the world allow the voice of every religion but Christianity to be heard? When Christians speak, we are dismissed as exclusionists, lunatics, and crackpots. The Quran is reviewed in public schools as a textbook of the history of Muslims but the Bible is banned. Prayers have been removed from our schools, employers can discipline employees for speaking of Christ, and Biblical beliefs are dismissed in our society as archaic statements and disregarded as revelation from God. All over the world, Christians are persecuted and in many places, tortured and killed. But in spite of every attack, we still have victory! And from this victory, we must stand! Rejoice, you have conquered the world, child of God! No matter what situation you are dealing with, you are more than a conqueror, so rejoice!
Daniel is a great example of being victorious through suffering. The Bible tells us in Daniel 6, that he had excelled because of his faith in God. His enemies rose up against him and conspired to have King Darius create an irrevocable law that stated no one could pray to any God but the king for thirty days. This placed Daniel in a dilemma because he had to decide whether he would turn from God to obey this law or suffer by trusting God. He chose to continue to pray, but watch this...he did not hide his faith while doing it. He prayed as he always did - three times daily in his window, facing Jerusalem. Child of God, never turn your back on God because of the world's beliefs! His enemies invoked the law and had Daniel cast into the lion's den, but the Bible says an angel came in and closed the mouth of the lions! This is why we can rejoice because even if we find ourselves in a situation that seems to destroy us, if we continue to trust in God, he will deliver us! King Darius released Daniel the next day and threw his enemies and their families into the den. The lions tore the families to pieces which ensured the victory for Daniel. All of this came, because he chose to endure the suffering and claim the victory. Therefore, be strong, child of God, the victory is yours!
I leave you with these words, "Therefore my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain". There is a work for you to do, child of God. Trust God to be victorious in that work and excel at it because you will not be disappointed.
Be blessed!
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