Thought for Thursday
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37
Military academies throughout the world still teach the battle tactics of Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king whose armies were never defeated under his command some 350 years before Christ. Alexander led his forces to victory over many different types of opponents in many parts of the world. After winning one great conquest, the story is told of someone encountering this great general weeping because there were no more enemies to conquer. Alexander was a great conqueror by the world’s standards, but he could go only so far. In fact, he could not conquer his own habits, and died at the age of 32 of poisoning that resulted from a drinking binge. But the humblest Christian can do better than Alexander. Our text says we can be more than conquerors.
To conquer is to defeat to the point of subjection. And, as Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In fact, we go further than conquering. For example, by enduring tribulation, we gain patience as well as hope that makes not ashamed (Romans 5:3-5). Bearing persecution brings us into the joy of true godliness. Everything that the Spirit leads us into victory in, we gain more than simply victory.
Although Alexander’s military brilliance enabled him to win all of his great battles, there was never any guarantee that he would win. In fact, the reluctance and homesickness of his armies prevented him from venturing far into India, which he never conquered. In contrast, although we as Christians frequently lose some of the little battles along the way, there is no possibility that we will ever lose the war. The Lord Jesus has won the victory already. He has defeated death for us, so that death for us is but a temporary loss. The Lord Jesus has also triumphed over temptation and evil, and has given to us the armour of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13). The whole armour of God enables us to be victorious in every aspect of our life. It enables us to be guaranteed of victory, something that this world’s conquerors, even Alexander the Great, could not boast.
God’s people are called to be meek and lowly, like our Lord. But we are also called to fight the good fight of faith, a fight we are guaranteed to do much more than just win. -Jim MacIntosh