Conqueror

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:

It is said that about 200 years ago the tomb of the great conqueror Charlemagne was opened. The sight the workmen saw was startling. There was his body in a sitting position, clothed in the most elaborate of kingly garments, with a scepter in his bony hand. On his knee lay the Holy Scriptures, with a cold, lifeless finger pointing to Mark 8:36: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loose his own soul?" (Rian Adams - Sermon Central)

The Word of God proves to us over and over again that God cannot fail us, but we might wonder, is it possible that we can fail Him? Suppose some trial or temptation comes our way and we fail Him? Then what? Paul deals with that problem in this passage, and explains that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

God does not shelter us from the difficulties of life, because we need them in order to grow spiritually. God permits trials to come in order that we may learn to depend on Him more. He gives us the power to be conquerors (v. 37).

The seven enemies that are listed here were the common foes of the Christians in the early church:

1. Tribulation

2. Distress

3. Persecution

4. Famine

5. Nakedness

6. Peril

7. Sword

Paul himself had faced all of these, and knew from personal experience that none of them had power to sever his relationship with Christ. Instead they only draw the believing heart closer to the Lord. The fact that God allows them to come into the believer’s life is only further proof that God loves us, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Heb. 12:6).

APPLICATION:

In my lifetime I will go through troubles beyond my control. All things do work together for good as Jesus is conforming me to His image. I will conqueror life’s problems through Jesus Christ.