September 1, 2020
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.” John 16:33
Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble.” Neither quote sounds good to me, but unfortunately it’s true. No matter what, we will have trouble in this life. Our life, our world is not perfect. But we can take heart, because Jesus gave us some good news too. As Jesus shared these words with His disciples, He was about to suffer like He never had before. But He knew what the outcome would be, His suffering would result in victory and eternal life for all who believe. In this world we all have trouble, but in HIM we may have peace. We can have victory in Jesus, because he has overcome the world!
Eugene Bartlett wrote hundreds of songs in his life, but in 1939 he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. It was at this time in his final years of life, when he was bedridden, dying, and the world was at war, that he wrote the only song I know him by. Though he was surrounded by troubles like he never had before, it didn’t tell the whole story, because he had a Savior, because he had victory in Jesus. In the midst of our troubles, take heart! There is Victory in Jesus!
I heard an old, old story,
how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary,
to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
and won the victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
and the old redemption story-
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
the song of victory.
Matthew Greven