More Than Conquerors

            “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, no principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39).

            God’s plan of salvation is not a “barely make it” plan. Rather, it is a plan of overwhelming victory. A victory so decisive and complete that only eternity will be able to reveal the full glory of the victory. Satan will not win one victory without the consent and cooperation of man.

            The plan of redemption is not an experiment to try to save some. It is a plan that is definite and workable. It holds a very sure promise of saving grace. It is all encompassing, and all can be saved. It is a plan workable for all ages. No one will get to heaven merely by the skin of his teeth. All saved persons will be in heaven by the abundant mercy of God (1 Pet. 1:3).

            The plan of salvation is made to be a total defeat of Satan. When the seventy returned from their mission trip and reported that even the devils were subject to them, Jesus answered and said that He saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18). The falling as lightning was more than a fall caused by gravity. It tells of a powerful thrusting out of heaven by God. Satan cannot argue that he almost defeated God or that he brought the salvation plan to a stall. In eternity Satan’s defeat will be complete and ultimate. Those lost will be so by their choice, not by a decisive victory of Satan. Those saved will be saved by margins of victory.

            There are the few who turn to Christ on their death beds. In the last moments of life they look to Calvary, and in penitence and faith they are redeemed. It is true they waited until the last moment of life, but the risk is not in a weakening grace of Calvary, but, rather, in the wasting of time and the deteriorating of mind and strength of the soul. Even as the thief on the cross, the victory of those saved in this way is overwhelming.

            A saved person will often meet temptation. These temptations are hurled at him to dismay and discourage. No one should think it unusual to be tempted. To overcome temptation, God has made His abundant grace available. There are no obstacles too great to overcome by the love of God. Even the problems of old sinful habits can be conquered.

            The matter of stumbling into error can be made right by repenting and looking to Jesus. This, too, is made more than conqueror through Jesus, for even failures can be made right by the love of God. All difficulties can be overcome by the love of God. Nothing has the power to destroy the child of God.

102 Devotional Sermonettes, Used by Permission