Oct 21, 2013
…Thanks be to God, who always leads us
in triumphal procession in Christ…2 Corinthians 2:14
Recently we posted this on facebook: “Fight the good fight of faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12 — Life is not about losing. Life is about overcoming.
We received more comments than usual to this posting. And I feel compelled to be honest. I don’t want to be an overcomer somehow, I want to be an overcomer who triumphs.
I began to think of others who have soared higher in their faith, overcoming triumphantly the storms of life:
- Noah, overcoming the pressure to conform to those around him in the midst of world-wide moral and spiritual bankruptcy, walking with God, listening to God’s Word, obeying God’s will, when no one else did, then triumphing when the human race was saved as a result.
Joseph, overcoming 13 years of discouragement and defeat as a slave, then a prisoner, triumphing when he was appointed second in command over all of Egypt, saving his own family from starvation. - David, running from a jealous king, fighting as a guerilla warrior, overcoming the temptation to claim his right to the throne by eliminating Saul, triumphing 14 years after he was anointed when he was enthroned and became the greatest of all of Israel’s earthly kings, and a man after God’s own heart.
- Daniel, overcoming the horror of enslavement, emasculation, identity theft, the loss of everything he had known, triumphing when he became prime minister under four different world emperors—and imparted to us his insights into the future.
- The three Hebrew slaves, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, overcoming the fear of the flames by refusing to compromise their convictions and bow down to a golden idol, then triumphing when the Son of God shows up with them in the furnace and the evil king, Nebuchadnezzar, becomes a worshipper of the one, true, living God.
- Saul of Tarsus overcoming pride and religiosity in order to acknowledge the One he had been persecuting was none other than the Messiah of Israel, then triumphing when he became a powerful preacher of the very message he had scorned, turning the world of his day upside down.
I could actually list dozens and dozens of names that come to my mind, not only from the Bible, but from the history of the church. I suggest you make your own list. Then choose with me to be part of His list…let’s be counted as part of the exclusive procession of those who don’t just overcome, but who overcome triumphantly!
