Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Seven times that haunting phrase is repeated in the awe-inspiring Book of Revelation: "He that overcometh ... " The idea is one of combat, hand-to-hand wrestling like Jacob's struggle with the Angel (Gen. 32:24, 25), like swimming upstream against a strong current, climbing a mountain, defeating a tenacious foe.
Does that idea of "overcoming" frighten you? You don't have the stick-to-it-iveness, perseverance, basic "strength," to win the battle? Like weary refugees on foot who can't summon the energy to take another step, who drop down and die, the temptation to give up the struggle to "overcome" causes some to drop out of the Christian "race." They give in to their long-established habits of alcoholism, or drug use, or pornography, or ... whatever. Apathy is the last of the vices that we are invited to "overcome" in the famous "seven" struggles of Revelation: "Because thou art lukewarm, ... I counsel thee, ... Be zealous, ... repent. ... To him that overcometh ... " (3:14-21).
Lukewarm apathy is spiritual weariness, loss of hope, boredom. It is the fundamental characteristic of Christ's true church in the last segment of time. The will seems paralyzed; it's the almost irresistible drowsiness that induces sleep at the very Gethsemane-time when the Master says, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation" (Matt. 26:41). Have you ever fought to stay awake when every cell of your being cries out for sleep? We have come to that time in world history, right now! Spiritual sleep was "Christian's" problem when he was trying to traverse "the enchanted land." He saw "pilgrims" snoring away by the side of the path that leads to eternal life, overcome by a stupor like nerve gas; it took every ounce of his spiritual energy to stay awake until he got out of the devil's enchantment. But he did get out, and you and I can "overcome."
A wise writer said, "Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory" (Ministry of Healing, p. 487). Here is the "how" of overcoming: look again at that last of the seven promises to the "overcomer." "To him that overcometh ... EVEN AS I OVERCAME," says Jesus. Immerse yourself in the story of Jesus' overcoming, His battle, His victory. Ponder His struggle in the wilderness of temptation (Matt. 4:1-11), His Gethsemane blood-sweating ordeal (Matt. 26:39), the unspeakable battle with self as He hung on His cross (Psalm 22). Let His experience be your icon to look at, rather than the endless photos of politicians and entertainers on TV.
Yes, the battle is intense, but the means of victory is simple--"look." You can overcome the stupor of unbelief.
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
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