Claiming Victory

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” – 1 John 3:4,5 The Bible is not ignorant of the world’s suffering. When you study the Jewish Scriptures, especially the Old Testament, you’ll see that the authors grappled with this question: why do good people suffer? Job, one of the first books of the Bible, is devoted entirely to the subject. Moreover, the majority of the minor prophets and the Psalms are lamentations: Oh Lord, how long will you forget the poor?, How long will you forget the downcast, oh Lord?, How long must we sing this song? In fact, Jesus Christ’s words on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are a Psalms quote. The