A chorus has been ringing in my mind and I am impressed not only at the power of music to resurface in our gray matter but also at the implications of the chorus. So often we sing words and do not have a chance in our rush to mull over the meaning. The chorus I am talking about right now comes from the song Overcome from Desperation Band and is
We will overcome
By the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony
Everyone overcome
This chorus has packed into it a promise “We will overcome” and a command “Everyone overcome” along with instructions on how to go about this, that is “By the blood of the Lamb And the word of our testimony”. Hmm…sounds scriptural. However much I admire the band or enjoy their music, I decided I should head for the source.
Revelation 12:10-11 (NIV), a picture of the cosmic battle in which we find ourselves tells us
Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last–salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth–the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.”
It is pretty clear where the band got their lyrics but the context is dazzling. The dragon–the accuser, Satan–was cast out of heaven but was not yet defeated. Those who are accused, those of the salvation and power and the Kingdom caused the defeat of the enemy, led first by the Lamb (God made man) shedding his blood and their firm hold on and declaration of (testimony) this truth. This defeat is done at their own peril for they do face a fearsome and wily foe but a powerful master who promises that he has ensured the safety of their souls.
If participating in the grandest victory of all time is not enough, a little picking through the King James will show that there are residual benefits reaped from this overcoming business (the NIV likes to say those who are victorious instead). The first of these is to eat of the tree of life (Rev. 2:7) and frankly this restoration of that which was lost with the original sin of humankind at the prompting of that wily foe is more than enough but God pours out generously rewards noted in Rev. 2:11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, and 21. I don’t dare go through all the goodness poured out in these verses right now or I may be overcome by the unwavering generosity of the one and only God who sees us as we are, administers justice to the nations, and for those who acknowledge and accept him as LORD unfettered mercy.
Everyone overcome
Leave a Reply