The Overcomer

A “Cup” is an interesting symbol in the Bible, not so much for what it is but for it’s contents. The “Cup” is a container, much like the Christian life. We are cartons, cups, receptacles, etc., etc., for good or evil things, for the Holy Spirit or the Unholy spirit. We bring good or evil things out of the treasure of our hearts.In Matt, 20:23 we see that the cup contains Suffering.

In 2 Samuel 11:13, it contained Treachery. (The Cup that David offered to Uriah)

“And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.”

In Mark 14:36 it contained the wrath of God upon sin. Jesus took the cup of God’s wrath
(anger against sin).

And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Jesus took the cup of wrath so that we may now take the cup of salvation that He offers.

“I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord” (Psa 116:13)

However, if we refuse the the cup of salvation we will drink of the cup of God’s wrath. (Rev 16:19)

And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Either way, there is a cup that we will be drinking from.

We have all been offered cups filled with genuine fellowship and “pure” drinking water and we have all been offered cups filled with strange fellowship (that we thought was genuine) and polluted water (truth mixed with lies) which always turns out to “poison” an individual. This “poisoning” always takes one away from the simplicity that is in Jesus Christ.

The other thing regarding the “cup of salvation” is the fact that Jesus does not force-feed us. We have to receive His cup of salvation and then bring it to our “mouth” and drink deeply of it. The taking and receiving of what God gives is our responsibility.

The giving is His and the receiving is ours.On another note, we have all drank mixture (lies and truth together). Maybe we should sip a bit more and gulp less. Slosh it around in our mouths a bit and see if we sense any bitter taste before we actually “swallow” it. Sometimes, you just don’t know something is bad for you until you actually do swallow it so we need our “senses (palate) exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:13). In other words, we don’t have to swallow.

Are we supposed to “know” evil by experiencing it? No, we are not. We are to discern it, but not experience it. So, how do we exercise our spiritual senses? Certainly not by partaking of evil as Satan deceived Eve into doing. Rather, by getting to know the Lord and obeying Him will you learn to discern evil. And how is this done? How do you discern evil by getting to know the Lord? Well, the more you know the Lord the more you recognize what is not of
Him. This is how we are to recognize evil. By partaking of Jesus (Tree of Life). Not by experiencing evil (the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), but by “knowing” the Lord. Any by knowing Him, we will know what is contrary to His nature and character and stay away from it. Someone once said that “the best way to get good at recognizing counterfeit money, is to study the real thing.”

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8).

Here is a good test that you can keep in mind. If it takes away from Jesus Christ in any way, or diminishes Him or brings Him lower than something or someone, then it does not pass the “simplicity test” and you should not drink from that cup.