Conquered
As I read Scripture this morning I came across a passage in Revelation 12 that at once made me nostalgic. In the apocalyptic narrative of the dragon's defeat and Satan being thrown down, the people belonging to Christ overcome by the blood and the word of their testimony.
The description, written to encourage believers facing first century persecution, is meant to stir rejoicing in the heavens, and among those in Christ. New Life Worship added the refrain to their mid-2000s song Overcome. That was my jam for a bit. That is the place of our victory, by the blood of Jesus we have forgiveness, a new covenant of grace. And the word of our testimony echos back the glory of our Savior as we stand firm in his righteousness and mission.
But as I read this text again this morning it was something else about these conquerors that stirred a different part of my soul.
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
Did you notice it? "For they loved not their lives even unto death." You see if I worship only from the first half of the verse it can be my life that I cherish, a settled comfort in my faith when things are going right. After all we are overcomers. But I am struck that the conquering, the overcoming in Revelation 12 has an longer lens than my present experience. After all, there are plenty of moments that don't feel like conquering. Especially when the standard by which I make such judgments is my life.
These conquerors though, who I think we are numbered among, don't use their life as the gauge of overcoming. They gave their lives away. The did not love their lives, even dying for it. They answered the call of the Kingdom to come and die, not for self, but because the self had found something better.
In a year where many of us have made more than one statement prioritizing our "rights" and have aggressively tried to maintain our "lives" as they were before the pandemic, I wonder if this opportunity is exactly what we needed to steel the conquering spirit in us. All of this is for Jesus, his glory, his message, his Kingdom come. When we embrace sacrifice, surrender and giving away of our own lives, that is where this truth is owned. And where the Lord bolsters us for the battles ahead.
I know how hard this is and I am convinced that is why Scripture puts it before us so often. I also know there is never enough when the flesh lives for self. The only way I have experienced satisfaction is finding it in Jesus regardless of what life looks like. You still overcome by the blood and the word of your testimony - of God's faithful, of his grace. And it is that blood and testimony that prime you to surrender your life for the only thing that is better.
As you ponder this today I pray that Jesus meets you and frees you of your life.
Comments
Post a Comment