Dec 14

There is much emphasis in Scripture on overcoming. In the Old Testament, there are the obstacles that the Israelites overcame in 40 years of wandering in the desert on their way out of Egypt, plus many other stories of his people at various times doing the same.

In the New Testament, it is no different. After his crucifixion, Jesus arose from the dead -- and persecution arose at the same time against his followers by those who did not believe in Jesus. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is even called the Honor Roll of the saints, listing as it does many of those who overcame the persecution against God's people, whether old or new.

But of all these instances recorded in God's Word, perhaps nowhere else do we see such great emphasis placed on persevering and overcoming as we do in Revelation, the book that deals with matters concerning the end times. Why is this? Why should these two, the end times and persevering, be so strongly linked together in Scripture?

Two reasons come to mind. First, perseverance and overcoming will be sorely needed to withstand the final, climactic assault of the devil and evil upon this world and upon the saints of God. Times will be so bad that unless God's people have fortified themselves beforehand, and continue to do so through those times, they will not be able to withstand them.

The last half hour of battle is always the toughest because that is when those who have withstood the heat of the battle through all the long hours leading up to that final segment are weak, weary and ready to give up. But they must not give up--or all will be lost.

Secondly, just as good and evil will reach their climactic, full expression at the final hour, so too must the very act of existence itself be seen in all its raw, essential nature and force. The very fact of existence must be seen as such a wonder and gift from God -- a truth that has often been hidden from the unseeing eyes of a world that has been wrapped up in enjoying existence without ever thinking about why anything exists except for one's own enjoyment.

The world must see the supernatural basis for all that exists. The world must see God -- and the darkness of that last hour will make the brilliance of his glory all the more noticeable.

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him" (Rev. 1:7).

Scripture for today: Rev. 1:7
Thought for today: At the end, the world will see where darkness leads and see the light of God come to replace it.
Prayer for today: Lord, I do not know how things will proceed at the end, except for what you have revealed about that in your Word. But I do know that I want your light to shine in me right now, to a dark and doomed world, before that final moment comes. Let my light shine now, Lord, so that others will see you now and not only at the end, when it is too late.

DEC 14