What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
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?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.

On the day of the 9/11 anniversary, when of one of the most heinous, cowardly attacks was made on our country by Islamic terrorists, I think it is important to remember all of those who died in the Twin Towers, at The Pentagon, and in the airplane who sacrificed their lives so it would not crash into the White House. Many still mourn for them — family members, colleagues, friends, Americans — whose lives were taken on 9/11. And then there were the heroic acts of the responding firefighters and policemen who went in to rescue those who were trapped inside. Many of these people died or were badly injured in their courageous efforts, and some were saved as a result. Finally, we must recognize those military men and women who went to take the fight to our enemies and responded to this unprovoked attack with a counterattack.

Thank you to all the heroes on that day! Your selfless efforts made me and all of us proud!

So in honor of these brave men and women, I am sharing with you one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It reminds me of the type of speech a General would give to his troops (on horseback) prior to turning to take the fight to a brutal enemy. I am terming it Paul’s Eternal Victory Battle Cry.

Make no doubt about it, the early church faced fierce and intense persecution for their faith. They were hunted down by the Jewish leaders, blamed for fires on Rome, and their lives were made “sport of” in the Gladiator games. Their enemies devised more and more wicked ways to torture and kill them. And so fear, no doubt, would seize some of them and they had to decide if they would stand up in the face of death or recant their faith in Jesus. What would you and I do in this situation?

The Apostle Paul understood the persecution they were facing, and in Romans, where he addresses those under persecution in Rome and the surrounding areas, he gives them an eternal battle cry. It has several components to it.

He first begins with questions that counter the questions of fear that plagued the minds of early Christians in these “life or death” times. These questions refocused them on their eternal home, and their Heavenly Father. 1) (Some might have felt that the forces of evil were too powerful to resist). Who can come against us if God is for us? 2) (Others might have wondered about the afterlife and if they were truly to be forgiven for their past sins). Who is it who brings charges against or condemns God’s children, his elect? 3) (Still others might have wondered if the love of Christ would abandon them and they would lose courage as they were tortured). Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

So we see for every earthly persecution or fear, the Apostle Paul had forethought and described a heavenly truth to combat it. This is such a powerful model for us today. We must enter the battles in life prepared and steel-faced mentally to face evil and know our power source is in Jesus Christ!

And then he states the totally overriding, universal fact of being a Christ-follower — “No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us” (emphasis mine).

The reality is, Jesus Christ is over all! He reigns in complete and absolute power! And this power means his life-giving love will always be in our hearts.

“I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63‬:‭2‬-‭5‬)

Lord, you truly are the best and highest purpose for my life and I choose to serve you and you only! Help me to remember my Eternal Victory Cry in the days and times of trial. You always help your children to RISE UP VICTORIOUS in the end. Praise you, Father!