"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NIV
Natural disasters, bitter elections, high divorce rates, economic downturns, shocking diagnoses. Jesus was right, "In this world you will have trouble!"
Do you sometimes wonder why the world is cursed with trouble? The Bible tells us that early in the history of humanity, Adam and Eve (the first humans) sinned in disobedience to God. This resulted in a change in the entire world structure. What had once been peaceful would now be tumultuous. What had once been easy would now be hard. What had once been of no concern would weigh heavily on our minds.
Thousands of years later, the results of sin still linger. In fact, we continue to sin and pile on the effects. We mistreat and misuse our bodies and have to deal with obesity, cancer, STDs, and other maladies. We live recklessly and have to deal with tragic and unwanted consequences. Self-centeredness fosters broken relationships. I could go on and on.
Is there a way out of this troubled world? Can it be fixed? How is the curse corrected? There's just one way: Jesus has overcome the world! Specifically, Jesus has overcome sin, its impact on creation, and its wages of death. But why does sin still exist, creation still suffer, and people still die?
What Jesus accomplished in this world will be fully experienced in another world. He promises a new heaven and earth in which all things will be set again in perfect order. That eternal world will be populated by God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit along with all those who follow Jesus Christ in this temporal world.
But for now we can live with confidence and hope that the trouble we now experience is limited because Jesus has overcome it all. Pray that God will help you take heart and live as an overcomer.
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