LEARNING DAILY

John 16:33, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Jesus

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:23, “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” If you would take the time to study the book of Proverbs, you would see that much of the writing concerns good and evil, sin and righteousness, or what is true compared to false. When he wrote this verse, he was highlighting the conflict between those who pursuing goodness (walk on the narrow way) and those who are pursuing evil (walking on the broad way). Other versions of the Bible speak of each side detesting the other. Jesus said it a little different; He wanted His disciples and Believers today to know that they would have troubles in this world because of following Him. In John 15:18-19 Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”.

The words Jesus spoke are an encouragement; He wants His disciples to remember His words, what He had taught them. It was also a warning. Believers today would do well to look at these words in that light. If you have walked with Jesus for very long, you will know what He meant about having difficulties in this world. Being a Christian does not guarantee an easy life or wealth or position. In fact, Jesus was quite clear following Him could lead to some persecution of some sort. His warning was so they would not be surprised when it came. That has been addressed in a previous page of the blog. There is opposition, increasing opposition, to the truth of God’s Word. This opposition is driven with anger, intense emotions that get out of control.

The opposition does not take God by surprise. When they come, trust in Him so that your faith might grow; in fact, the opposition and trials Believers face are part of God’s plan. Hebrews 11 is a chapter that tells readers about those individuals, “heroes of the faith” who chose to hold on to their faith through what they faced trusting in God. Read the chapter and see that individuals held on to their faith and died before the promises of God were fulfilled – that happened after their death.

Jesus promised peace. This peace may not be comfort or happiness in the life of the Believer. No, His peace is to be able to lay our burdens down at His feet in prayer, casting the anxieties faced on Him, trusting that He has all things under His control, and He is working everything out according to His will.

In this world there is anxiety, fear, persecution, hatred, sin, temptation, evil, sorrow, and death. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” “Overcome” means to defeat, win a victory over as in a contest or battle. The world is the created physical realm apart from heaven. The Lord Jesus knows that Believers are going to come against trouble, difficulty, and sorrow. But the Good News is that He has “overcome” every obstacle, every trial, every temptation, everything in the world that comes against us! He who did that sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ grants that each believer overcome the world through Him. The reward for doing so is life with Him in His kingdom for eternity. That’s worth the walk on the narrow way in faith and obedience to all He has shown us in His Word!