More Than Conquerors

I just have to share something with you about Romans 8:37. It says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." I mentioned this verse in my post about the pumpkin devotion.
For so many years, I really didn't understand what this verse was really supposed to mean. I could relate to being a conqueror - but I always wondered what God meant by being MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. I think I've finally started to get the picture. It started about three years ago when Chris and I got to go Israel for the first time. Our tour guide is Rimon - and he has so much biblical and historical knowledge that we could hardly keep up with him much of the time. Some time after the trip, I came across Romans 8:37 again, and God helped me recall some of Rimon's words.
In biblical times there were so many different kings and kingdoms - some large kingdoms, but also many city-states. If a king wanted to grow his kingdom, he might decide to attack a city-state, destroy it, and either kill or mutilate its king. If he could do this, you might say he had "conquered" that kingdom. What more could he do to be MORE than a conqueror then? Well, once all the city was captured and the king and all his people were dead or taken captive - the king would keep all the spoils of the war! He received wealth and riches and spoils from the conquered city. Then the new king would take over this new territory and use it for the purposes of his own kingdom. That's a picture of us!
See, until Christ - the King of Kings - came and rescued us, we were in a besieged city! We were captive and condemned to death. Anyone who is in Christ, though, is now free. We are conquerors. We have freedom from the penalty of our sin, and we also have freedom from he power of sin! We have victory over sin! But even THAT is not the end of the story for us! God gives us opportunities to see Him take possession of our past and transform it into riches for His Kingdom by using it to accomplish His kingdom purposes! Only a holy, soveriegn God can accomlish the miracle of making us more than conquerors! Taking over enemy territory...for God's Kingdom...What a mighty God we serve!
Need some practical pictures of people who are more than conquerors? Imagine somebody who once stuggled with anger. Now they're set free from anger: conqueror. Then God uses them to help others overcome their anger: more than a conqueror.
Imagine a young woman with a strong will and rebellious spirit. Later, in Christ, she is so fully submitted to God that she surrenders to her calling of poverty on the mission field: conqueror. God uses her surrendered sense of determination, perseverence, and long-suffering to change the face of international missions: more than a conqueror. (Lottie Moon...)
Imagine somebody who once struggled with alcohol. God strengthens them and they are no longer ruled by this thirst: conqueror. Then God makes them a policeman with a passion for pulling over drunk drivers...so he can help save their lives from destruction: more than a conqueror.
Imagine somebody who struggled with impure thoughts. They rely on God to maintain a consistently pure thought life: conqueror. They later help others by passing on their testimony of God's purifying work in their own lives...perhaps their own children...:more than a conqueror.
If you find yourself having to walk on what was once enemy territory in your life, and you choose to glorify God and assist others traveling through that same territory, you are more than a conqueror, too. Please leave a comment - share how God has made you more than a conqueror. Who knows what kind of spoils it might leave at the feet of your King.