Overcoming the World

E. Stanley Jones was a missionary, a theologian, and a prolific writer. He wrote the following words in his devotional book Victorious Living about how we are united with Christ and that that means that we are united with His overcoming the world:

"Among the most penetrating and hope-bringing words Jesus ever gave us were these, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world' (John 16:33).

"'Ah, yes,' you say, 'He did overcome the world, but that was two thousand years ago--and I am living now. What has this to do with me, now?' In answer we would say that two ideas belong together--the announcement that Jesus was identified with the hunger and the sickness and the imprisonment of people--'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me,' and this verse telling us that 'in me ye shall have peace,' for 'I have overcome the world.' In other words, as He is identified with us in our defeats and sicknesses and hunger, so we are also identified with Him in His victory--His overcoming the world is our overcoming the world, provided, of course, that we enter into it and relate ourselves to it and make it our very own.

"This opens up to me an amazing possibility--I can make every one of His victories my very own. I can so relate my life to His in complete adjustment that when He overcomes, I overcome. I live actually by the life and victories of Another.

"A missionary couple, married rather late in life, were deeply in love with each other. The husband at the breakfast table was telling guests of a dream he had the night before. The wife broke in, 'Why, F--, did you dream that dream, or did I?' They were so identified that they couldn't tell which one dreamed the dream!

"We smile at the naivete of these married lovers, but in very fact one can say to Christ, 'Why, Master, did you overcome the world or did I?' and hear Him gently answer, 'Why we both did, for my victory is your victory.'"