"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." - 1 John 5:4
Wow! I can overcome the world! That's always my reaction any time I read this verse. I grew up a bit timid and unsure of myself much of the time. As a Pastor I still feel incapable of facing, let alone, overcoming the daily challenges of life. Raising two pre-teens, being a great husband to only one wife, and a Pastor that God and his Church will be proud of. How about finances, health and other sundry issues of life? Your list may be similar or different, yet we all have challenges in this world that needs overcoming. Then come with me to explore this verse.
Overcome
This word means to win(as in battles of life), Pass (examinations), defeat (speaking of enemies), Overpower (the powers that be, in your workplace or home), surmount(every challenge), excel(in all things). To 'overcome', is attain to your God-given goals at the end of it all.
The World
i. The devil is the prince of this world. John 12:31;14:30; 2Cor. 4:4. The activity of Satan against us is real, but we can overcome him.
ii. The world of sin - 1 John 2:15. Daily, we face the challenge of maintaining purity in a sin-charged world. Just turn on a TV to catch some news and you are bombarded with pictures you wouldn't love to see. The pull to sin is every where around us, yet we can maintain purity as world overcomers.
iii. The very institutions and systems of the world and their normal challenges require some help to overcome. Only yesterday, my son was trying to read 1, 233, 499 in words! That's an educational challenge for him. How about your Job or lack of it, marriage, business etc. All these are included in the 'world' God expects us to Overcome.
Born of God
There is a category of persons that has an inbuilt potential to overcome the world. Let me strectch your immagination a bit. If there is a battle between a Cat and a Mouse, who is expected to overcome? The Cat of course, except you've been watching Tom and Jerry recently! How about a battle between a Son of a Lion and a Goat? Now the answer is without a doubt, the Lion. So, if there is a battle between a Son of God and the world, who will overcome? I don't know about you, but I will overcome.
It's all about our heritage. Goats give birth to Goats, Lions give birth to Lions and that which born of a Lion overcomes that which is born of a Goat . Corollary, that which God gives birth to is a god and overcmes the world, Q.E.D. 1John 4:4; Luke 10:18-19. "Satan don fall for gutter!"
To be an overcomer requires that:
a. You are born of God
b. You know who you are
c. You execrcise your faith in God who is in you
d. You face the world with confidence and boldness as the Lion that you are.
Welcome to the world of overcomers! Shalom.
