What is a Conqueror?
One morning in 1888 Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as a result of a simple mis-print. You see, it was Alfred's brother that had died and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother. Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances, but to Alfred the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him.
He was the "Dynamite King," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Alfred's life. He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone he would be remembered. As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune.
His last will and testament was an endowment of five annual prizes for outstanding contributions in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace (the sixth category of economics was added later)--This endowment would be the expression of his life's ideals--the "Nobel Peace Prize."
Throughout time people have wrestled with their mortality. Even today billions of dollars are spent annually trying to postpone the inevitable--death. But it still remains true--death is a fact of life, and all of us will face it one day. Nevertheless, a “Conqueror” has conquered death that we might be more than conquerors in this life.
Listen to these scriptures.
I Corinthians 15: 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead... 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 53 For the mortal body must clothe itself with immortality,.... 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Yes death is a reality but through Jesus, death is conquered. Through Jesus Christ, we become more than conquerors--the Bible says.
If this is true, then what does it mean to be a conqueror?
As a conqueror, I fear not death. Death will never have the final say over my body.
Neil Simon, who wrote The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park, was asked on the Dick Cavett Show whether making a lot of money concerned him. The studio went dead silent when Simon answered, "No...what does concern me is the fear of dying."
Since Jesus has conquered death, fear of dying must bow to victory in Jesus. In Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
As a conqueror, we are to live life abundantly. Erma Bombeck once said, Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.
An abundant life resists discouragement. Be encouraged in life: Marion Gilbert was quoted in February 1994 in the Reader’s Digest, “One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected ‘delivery service,’ I fed him some treats. The following morning I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.”
As a conqueror, seek out the joy in life. C.S. Lewis once said, Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
Live life to the fullest. Do not fear the inevitable--Jesus has removed the fear of death having pioneered the way before us. One day you and I will witness history on a grand scale--death will be terminated.
Secondly as a conqueror, I prevail in victory because the Victor lives in me.
Howard Hughes: Worth 2.5 billion dollars at his death, he was the richest man in the United States. He owned a private fleet of jets, hotels and casinos. When asked to claim his body, his nearest relative, a distant cousin, exclaimed, "Is this Mr. Hughes?" He had spent the last 15 years of his life a drug addict, too weak in the end to even administer the shots to himself. His 6'4" frame had shrunk to 6'1" and he weighed only 90 lbs. Not a single acquaintance or relative mourned his death.
The only honor he received was a moment of silence in his Las Vegas casinos. Time magazine put it this way: "Howard Hughes' death was commemorated in Las Vegas by a minute of silence. Casinos fell silent. Housewives stood uncomfortable clutching their paper cups full of coins at the slot machines, the blackjack games paused, and at the crap tables the stickmen cradled the dice in the crook of their wooden wands. Then a pit boss looked at his watch, leaned forward and whispered, "O.K., roll the dice. He's had his minute."
What are you striving for in this life--victory or ruin? I once preached a funeral where the deceased, the funeral director, and I were the only ones present. To add insult to injury, as I was concluding the ceremony in prayer--a man came up and said that he was there for the service. I preached the whole ceremony again.
Live this life in victory--win souls to Jesus. Establish strong relationships. Love. Cry. Provide for the needy. Give graciously...Tim Mcgraw sings a song that made people stand up and take inventory of their lives a few years ago--Live like you were Dying.
Third as a conqueror, we cheat death and live forever.
Sarah Winchester's husband had acquired a fortune by manufacturing and selling rifles. After he died of influenza in 1918, she moved to San Jose, California. Because of her grief and her long time interest in spiritism, Sarah sought out a medium to contact her dead husband. The medium told her, "As long as you keep building your home, you will never face death."
Sarah believed the spiritist, so she bought an unfinished 17-room mansion and started to expand it. The project continued until she died at the age of 85. It cost 5 million dollars at a time when workmen earned 50 cents a day. The mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years.
Today that house stands as more than a tourist attraction. It is a silent witness to the dread of death that holds millions of people in bondage.
One day we will pass from this life into another existence that span eternity. You will make eternity in one of only two places--forever in the presence of God, or forever in the absence of God. Which do you choose?
Conclusion:
The Bible declares, “Death is swallowed up in victory”--One day death will be no more. The Bible concludes with these words: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Live today without fear of dying. The sting of death holds nothing on you.
You and I will live forever--this is what it means to be more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Go out there an live it up!
