John 16:33
Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Yes, there will be trouble, Jesus says, but he also tells us to take heart, exclamation point! This is the same word from which we get our word COURAGE. When we take heart, it means we have courage. Jesus is literally telling us to be courageous.
Upon what do we base our courage? Him, of course, or rather his actions.
Jesus overcame the world. What this means is that he was and still is victorious over death and, therefore, sin. By trusting in his word, which is truth, we also can overcome the world and anything, ANYTHING that it can throw at us, which it will do.
This is another reminder that that we Christians are all strangers passing through this strangely familiar un-homeland. Since Christ overcame the world, we know where we are going.
In athletics, I tell my boys that it doesn't matter whether they win or lose, Jesus has already secured the final victory. Better than any World Series, Wimbledon, or U.S. Open Championship!! When tough things happen to us, we can "take heart" and know that nothing we encounter is so bad that God won't be there with us, helping have the courage to make it through.
Thank the Lord for the ultimate championship: Victory over the world!!
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