2001.9.23. Washingtonian(20) - Rev. Young Jin Cho

We are more than conquerors

Romans 8:35-39

Many years ago, while I was retreating for my TB, a man in his 40s were admitted in our wing. At the time, we didn't have a hospital chaplain. A seminary student led us for worship through speaker system on Sundays. So, some of us, Christians, got together on Wednesdays for prayer meetings.

When we invited him to our Wednesday prayer meetings, he seemed annoyed. And he said, I used to attend a church. And when I was diagnosed with this disease, I prayed very hard for healing. But God gave me no answers. I came to a conclusion that either God abandoned me or He doesn't exist. Don't ask me to come to your prayer meetings. He said he went on a mountain to pray and fasted. I felt really bad. I even resented God. Why didn't God listen to his prayers? I wondered why God is so silent.

What do you think of our God? When we are facing obstacles in our lives, does God abandon us? Did God abandon those people who were killed and buried when the World Trade Center crashed down? How are our hardships related to God's love?

Today's scripture, Romans chapter 8 verses through 35-39, is one of my favorite scriptures. Disciple Paul concludes how lives of Christians who are righteous through God's grace should be, in Romans chapter 5 through chapter 9. In chapter 8, Disciple Paul witnesses that Christian's life is a life in which Holy Spirit dwells. He also proclaims about triumphant lives of Christians.

I.

In my last sermon, I talked about 4 of 5 questions that are mentioned in chapter 8, verses 31 and thereafter. Those are, first, in verse 31, If God is for us, who can be against us? Second, in verse 32, He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things? The third is, in verse 33, Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? And the fourth is, in verse 34, Who is he that condemns us?

Today's scripture starts with the fifth question. It is "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" This question is continued with a detailed situation: "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For this question, disciple Paul answers in verses 38 and 39, with conviction: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear everyone, who, or what can separate us from love of Christ? Today's scripture clearly declares: "Nothing!" Nothing or no one can separate us from the love of Christ. His love is that strong. God's love is that firm.

When we face obstacles and hardship, the first thing we think about is whether God has abandoned me, or, if God is punishing me. Then we question whether God loves us. If he does, why do I have to go through this kind of pain? Then we complain, "Why me, God?"

But everyone, is love of our God that weak? Is it weak enough so that it collapses in times of small obstacles? Is His love so fickle that we can not count on? Is His love so stern that he punishes for our little mistakes?

NO! Bible does not describe God that way. Love of God through Jesus Christ is not that weak. It is not that fragile. It is not that fickle. Love of God does not stop or break in any kind of situations. It does not end in trial times. It does not end at a time of persecution. It does not end when we are hungry and naked. It does not end at the time of death.

Human love has limitations. Especially when we are separated by death, our love ends inevitably. At the time of World Trade Center tragedy, some people in the burning WTC, and a few from the hi-jacked plane have called their loved ones. They left messages saying that they love them, to people who were the most important in their lives. It really breaks our hearts to hear those stories. Their precious and beautiful love could only last until before the threshold of death. When death comes, love ends. Of course it will leave beautiful memories.

But the Love of God does not end before death. Disciple Paul proclaims: "Neither death nor life…. Nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Amen, it is truly Amen.

Disciple Paul's conviction is not a product of reasoning or theory. He is someone who truly experienced God's love. More than anyone, he experienced obstacles, hardship, persecution, starvation, nakedness, danger, and violence. He writes about his suffered life journey in second Corinthians chapter 11, verse 23. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times, I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

If any of you who has had this much hardship, raise your hand. He has gone through deadly trials. He has experienced all kinds of danger, pain, and obstacles. But he is proclaiming that amongst all those hardships, the love of God has not ended. Nothing, even death can not separate us from the Love of Christ.

Everyone, isn't this love trustworthy? Isn't this love strong enough? Isn't this the greatest love? It is not the kind of love that would perish before hardship. It does not end because we were diagnosed with cancer. It does not end when we fail our businesses. It does not end because we have family problems. It does not end when there is no answer after a few days of prayers.

There is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Even death can not separate us from this love. We, Christians live in this Love. We live feeling this Love. We live holding on to this Love.

II.

Living in this imperishable love, we also have wonderful Grace. We have the special privilege. Disciple Paul proclaims this grace in chapter 8, verse 37: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. We are more than conquerors!! That's right, we are called to live as conquerors. In any kind of hardship, obstacles, failure, and death, we can be more than conquerors. We are called as people of victory. We do not give up at hardships and obstacles. We do not collapse before sickness and failure. We can conquer. We can be more than conquerors.

But the source of this victory is not of ours. We do not conquer with our will. We do not conquer with our determination. I am sure a person, with a strong will, can overcome obstacles without faith. He may conquer hardships with conviction and will power. But the victory that is achieved with human will definitely has a limitation. That limitation is death. A person, who overcomes hardship with his own strength, with his own will, can not do anything before death. He becomes powerless in front of death. Jean-Paul Sartre who is well known as Atheistic Existentialist is a typical example. He talks about human freedom. And he was considered as the intellectual of the 20th century. But he was powerless and weak when he faced death. Because, the victory humans can achieve has the limitation.

But, we, Christians do not have limitations. We are called to be unlimited conquerors. But the victory does not come from me. It is not of my will. It's not because of my strength and belief. The reason we can conquer, that we can be more than conquerors, is because of the Love of God that never perishes, and because of His love that protects us in hardships, obstacles, and deaths. Because of His love, we can conquer. Because of the Love of God, we can live as conquerors. Because of His love, we can be more than conquerors.

Let's think about the meaning of the victory of Christians and Christians as conquerors in detail. Many of us think of the overcoming hardships as solution of a problem. For example, we consider healing of the sick, success from the failure, recovering from a deadly disease are the results of victory. But the meaning of victory that God gives us lies in another dimension.

First, of course He lets us conquer by solving our problems. As I mentioned earlier, He lets us conquer by solving problems. He lets us conquer by healing our sicknesses, and success of our businesses that were failing. The Grace of God solves problems. Happiness and thanks returns to families that used to be in pain. God can work these wonders. He gives us victory by solving these problems. But these are not the only faces of the victory God gives us.

Second, the victory God gives us changes our point of view toward the hardships when we still have them.

The hardships that didn't have any meanings before give new meanings. Until now, we were fettered by the hardships and couldn't see our surroundings. But when we realize the Love of God, we can discover that God has His plans in them. Some philosopher said, If we can understand the meaning of our hardships, the thorn of that hardship is already gone.

Third, the victory that is given in the Love of God has its characteristics. The pain and hardship still exist. But He gives us strength to endure and overcome them. When Lord gives us the strength, the pain can not hurt us any more. We are no longer fettered by the failure. We are no longer prisoners of hardships. Even though the problem persists, though the fig tree does not bud, though there are no cattle in the stalls, we can now rejoice. We can give thanks and praises to the Lord.

Everyone, miracle doesn't happen only when a failure becomes a success, but also when we can still praise the Lord in failure. Miracle doesn't happen when a wheel chair bound person stands up and walks. But miracle happens when that person can give thanks sitting in his wheel chair. Miracle does not happen when someone miraculously recovers from cancer, but it happens when he can live the rest of his life with joy and gratitude. That is the victory.

I am not only speaking of theory. I had a tough time while I was in the Severance Hospital for 3 months after my lung surgery. What hurt me the most was that my trust and faith towards God was weakening. Does God really love me? I have already devoted myself to become a minister. But there was no development in my recovery but only pain persisted. God didn't give me any special treatment because I was a minister candidate. People who didn't know God were recovering and discharged one by one. But I could not foresee my future.

One day, in great pain, in the middle of my lunch, I covered myself with the bed sheet and wept. I protested and pleaded to God about my pain. Then, God gave me his voice. They were the words from Matthew chapter 10, verses 29 through 31. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I realized that God knew my pain. I realized, once again, the God I know through Jesus Christ is Loving God.

Why doesn't God do anything when he knows my pain when he loves me? I could not understand it with my ability. But I could trust His love. I could believe that He had a plan. Since then, I faced my illness with a different attitude. I did not try to find God's love in my pain, but I saw my pain through God's love. I can never forget the awe and peace I felt then.

I left the hospital after 3 months. But I was not fully recovered. I had to suffer for another 8 months with an infection in my lung. After that, I had another lung surgery. God did not miraculously heal my sickness. But with all things, He worked for the Good. He led me so I can be more than a conqueror.

Fourth, there is another way that God leads us to victory. It can be death. The life on this earth could end. But the death is not a failure for Christians. Death is not the final destination. Death is the beginning of a new life. It is the gate to the eternal life. Therefore we are fine either dead of alive. If the life on this earth is everything, death can be The End. In that case, living is victory and death is failure. But since there is an eternal life after our deaths, it's a different story. Jesus died on the cross helplessly. If the death is the end, He is a true failure. Because He was mercilessly killed, in his early 30s, by the betrayal of his disciple. But His death was not the end. Behind the cross, there was the empty grave. His death has become the key to open a new life.

It is same for us. Our death does not make us failures. We can conquer death. We can praise before our death. We can be thankful facing death because eternal life waits for us. Because the true victory, the day of eternal triumph is waiting for us.

III.

The fact that we became Christians is a very special grace. It is not just an average privilege. We are the people who live in never lasting Love of God. We are more than conquerors in His Love. In any kind of hardship, any kind of obstacles, any kind of sickness, and any kind of failure we can rise again and again like a tumbling doll. We can open our future within the Love of God. We can start a new history.

It happened in southern California. A couple served God very diligently. They had one problem. They didn't have children. They prayed hard, for 1, 5, 10 years. But there was no answer from God. On the 16th year, the wife bore a child. They thanked God and prepared for the childbirth. On the day of delivery, the wife had a son after a painful labor. The new mother wanted to see her child. But nurses were very reluctant to bring the child to her. After many requests, a nurse brought the baby. The couple was shocked. The baby had a severe deformity on his face and body. Oh God! How could this happen? How can our baby, that you gave us after 16 years of waiting, be like this? They could not think that was God's love. It seemed there is no God. They wailed and screamed all night. Doctors and nurses didn't have any words to console them.

Next morning, the husband came to his wife in the hospital. The wife wiped her tears and held her husband's hand. She said, "Honey, I prayed all night and asked God what His will is. God gave me an answer. Maybe God looked for the right family who can raise this baby with love over 10 years. He decided that we can be the ones who can give this baby the most love. I will raise this child with all my love. Please help him." The husband cried, so did the wife and the nurse who came in.

Everyone, is this self-justification? Is this self-consolation? When we have hardships, we face two choices. One is to stand high on the faith of Love of God. The other is to refuse God's love and live with pain and groan. We have to make a choice. What will you choose?

Who can separate us from the Love of God? Can it be hardships? Can it be trials? Can they be persecution, starvation, danger, or violence? Deaths, life, angels, demons, authorities, present, or future, none of these things can separate us from the Love of God that is in Jesus Christ. Also, we can be more than conquers through Him who loves us. We can be more than conquerors. We can be more than conquerors.