Following the Trail of God's Promises: The 40-Day ChallengeSample

40. Jesus Has Overcome

The One who was promised as a Savior, foreshadowed as far back as the time of Moses and the prophets, faithfully awaited by all the tired, burdened, exhausted and helpless: Jesus, who through many conversations, repeatedly presents Himself with those burning words of divine identity: “I Am”. The Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the True Vine - all those realities that His disciples learned to recognize experientially in their Master. The One with whom they have a deep relationship, in whose footsteps they followed, with whom they broke bread. The One they listened to speak with an authority never seen before, who performed miracles right before their eyes, raising the sick and freeing the oppressed. He now tells His disciples that the moment is coming when the Master must leave, just as He often used to say in His parables. The Master is leaving for a while, but the Master will return. It will be a time of fear, uncertainty, struggle and trial. It will be a time of suffering in this world - hearts will still ache, tears will still flow, the body will still decay, illness will grieve and death will take without question. But sorrow will turn to joy because He will wipe away every tear. There will be no more mourning, crying, or pain for the old order of things will have passed away. Let’s take heart, brothers and sisters, because at the end there is one more of His “I Am”s - He is the One who has overcome!

PRACTICAL CHALLENGE

Day 40. The text talks about a future that is different from our reality today. Read one of the scriptures that talk about that victory and what it will look like (e.g. Revelation 7: 9-12). Think about that image and be encouraged! Share this with someone whose view may be currently stuck in the past, or to whom this reality that awaits us in the future seems unattainable.