37. I Have Overcome the World
37
I Have Overcome the World1
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
—John 16:33
If you were not strangers here, the dogs of the world would not bark at you. You may see all windings and turnings that are in your way to heaven in God’s Word, for He will not lead you to the kingdom at the nearest, but you must go through “honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:8–10). The world is one of the enemies that we have to fight with, but it is a vanquished and overcome enemy and like a beaten and forlorn soldier, for our Jesus has taken the armor from it. Let me then speak to you in His words: “Be of good courage,” says the Captain of our salvation, “for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
You shall neither be free of the scourge of the tongue nor of disgraces (even if it were buffetings and spittings upon the face, as was our Savior’s case) if you follow Jesus Christ. I beseech you in the bowels of our Lord Jesus; keep a good conscience, as I trust you do. You live not upon men’s opinion; gold may be gold and have the king’s stamp upon it when it is trampled upon by men. Happy are you if, when the world tramples upon you in your credit and good name, yet you are the Lord’s gold, stamped with the King of heaven’s image and sealed by the Spirit unto the day of your redemption. Pray for the spirit of love, for love “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).
1. Letters, no. 54, 127.