Is there really a way to live in the adversities within the world whereby we can be overcomers? With all the tragedies, disruptions, destruction and demise, is there a way to live victoriously? What about all the economic concerns, health woes, and constant onslaught of disease that threatens, is there a way to live above all those? John the apostle says there is in our verse for today found in the book of First John in chapter five and verse four. He wrote:
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, [even] our faith.
John has been sharing with us the importance of having a relationship with God. He has told us over and over again how much God loves us, and that those who love God in return are those who are “born of God” or born again. Now John points us to one of the benefits to being a child of the living God – we overcome the world. Oh, this isn't like a world dominating conquering as in taking over governments or powers, but rather it is living in a manner that no matter what the world places in our paths, we can be victorious over it. Pain, suffering, loss, trials, hurts, difficulties, disruptions, and even death, no matter what the obstacle may be, we who are born of God overcome it.
From where does that source of victory come? Where do we who are born of God find this sort of strength? What is the power from which we draw that helps us to overcome? Unlike many who turn to mind altering chemicals who “drown” themselves or “shelter” themselves from the realities, we who are born of God find our victory in our faith. This faith is not in ourselves, but rather in an Almighty God who is a loving, caring and helpful Heavenly Father who knows far more about events and situations which we endure. God is powerful, and nothing is impossible with Him. Nothing shall separate us from His great love. Paul the apostle said it this way in the book of Romans in chapter eight and verses thirty-one thru thirty-nine:
What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifies. Who [is] he that condemns? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John as well as Paul say that we can overcome the world by our faith. We obtain this victory by fellowship with God through Jesus Christ His Son. Perhaps there are those who are reading this entry who do not know this ability to overcome? Perhaps there are some who would like to know how much God desires to give this gift to all who will receive it? Perhaps today is the day when some reader declares, “I'm tired of living defeated. I am tired of being conquered. I want to live a victorious, overcoming life. Today I receive Jesus, God's Son, into my life, and my victories are just ahead.”
Next time we will see specifically how this ability to overcome is derived directly from a relationship with Jesus Christ, so read ahead, and we shall share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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