“In ‘it” You are More Than A Conqueror!

The Christian life is marked with challenges and trials. In the furnace of tribulation our faith is refined; we glitter like gold when we pass through the fire of adversity. Therefore, the Christian faith is synonymous to challenges. The love of God does not exempt us from such parody of circumstances but thrust us into it. We must not be depressed when we experience such anomaly to our expectations.

We had hoped that the faith offers a solitude from adversities, liberty from challenges, and security from financial woes. However, that is not the case as we are strengthened to be buried in the avalanche of problems.

Interestingly, this misconception does not exempt us from the reality of such challenges. No believer signed up for this. It was not part of the recruiting proposal. It is a rude awakening when we are confronted with them.
Paul therefore writes to awaken the Roman church to this fact and encourages them to be firm in their faith as they endure such pernicious challenges. He lists some of the worst scenarios that might befall the believers as a basis of illustration. He makes an outstanding observation that though such challenges have the ability to annihilate anyone, God is sovereign in His omnipotence to sustain the believer. The Lord does not deliver you out of it but sustains you through it.

There are many things stacked against us yet we do not sink, overwhelmed sometimes yet not distraught, push to our limit yet not strained, cast down but not forsaken. However, “in it” we are more than conquerors. We are inoculated from destruction so much that there is no pestilence that can consume us. It is in such traumatic challenges that who we are in Christ is made manifest. We glitter when we are put in furnace; we are more than conquerors when we are “in it”. You break out when you are pressured, you increase when suppressed. God put you “in it” that He might show you who you really are.

“In it” you will find out who you truly are. God put you in those things to show you what you are made of. “In it” you will find out you are stronger than your adversary, resilient than your problems, that your complexity is beyond description! Truly, in it you are more than a conqueror!

We are not just a conqueror but more than a conqueror. The title ‘Conqueror’ is not just a label but an honorary title conferred upon a General that has vanquished his adversary in a war. There is a special parade that is organized by the victorious nation to ordain such a General into such dignified position. Such parade is spectacular and is marked with jubilation, national anthem being sung, rapturous chants and the atmosphere crowded with confetti. The General who is a conqueror then marches through the center of the city with the vanquished king in chains on foot following him in his chariot. He is applauded by raving spectators of the victorious nation as he is inducted into the office of a conqueror. Such inauguration is marked with jubilation, celebration and patriotic exhilaration.

However, the believer is not the Conqueror but more than a conqueror. The title ‘More than a Conqueror’ is conferred upon the wife of the General who did not go to the battle but is still honored with the husband the General. In a parade, the wife rises in the chariot enjoying the accolades and the applause that is conferred upon the General. She did not fight the battle but she is enjoying the victory. She is enjoying the benefit of the war because she is the lover of the General.

We are more than conquerors because Christ loved us. His love for us has inducted us into the office of More than a Conqueror that guarantees our victory over the enemy. We are therefore triumphant before the battle, victorious before the adversity, successful before the challenges. We are more than conquerors because Christ spoiled the power of the enemy and made a show of him before the whole universe. Therefore, you must be assured you will outlast your problems; you will triumph even when it seems it is over.As believers, we don’t throw in the towel; we don’t quit. We don’t retreat, and surrender is not in our vocabulary. We are destined to win. We are more than conquerors! Therefore, stay focused in this very fact in your adversity as Christ make manifest the ecstasy of victory.Nay, in all these things know who you are; you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loved you!
Thank you Jesus! Hallelujah!