Overcomers
The journey to come to Christ starts with God disturbing and arousing us from sleep. The night is far spent the day is at hand… He has awakened us by removing the blindfold from our eyes and the veil from our faces so that we can see him clearly. Our second journey is a journey of sanctification… To become just like Christ. Sanctification is to live according to the purpose for which the Designer designed us, for we are his workmanship, his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has before ordained that we should walk in them. The new man must be renewed day by day by walking in the newness of life. The journey to become like Christ is the journey to overcome the darkness of this world. Jesus said, “I am not alone because my father is with me.” When the crisis comes and courage is required God expects those who are the reliable ones to be faithful according to his word. Persistence and steadfastness is the key to becoming the Reliable Ones… Those on whom God can rely to be faithful. Jesus said, “In this world you shall have many trials and sorrows, but take heart because I have overcome the world.” Our courage and assurance is not because of our circumstances, but because our strength is in him. We have been called as overcomers of the sin which does so easily beset us. The biggest obstacle to overcome is our selfish pride. We must get the better of ourselves. In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus what would be the signs of the end times. Jesus said that there would be division and strife. Nations and kingdoms would turn against each other and the love of God would grow cold. When we lose the love of God we will lose the love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. The light of the fire of Christ in us needs to be fanned in flame of fellowship with others within the family of faith. The one who overcomes and endures to the end shall be saved. Endure means to continue to exist in the same situation: with the peace of God steadfastly without complaining and without giving in. Endurance is to accept unpleasant circumstances with a joyful heart. When we obey his word from a heart of joy, the Lord will rejoice with us. Jesus’ example is his enduring the cross for the joy that was set before him… His joy was your redemption and mine… That because of his suffering and death, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Psalm 112:4-9 is the description of a Godly man… Generous, compassionate, and righteous and fair in business dealings. Therefore, be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good. A godly man does not let his love of the Lord run cold. A righteous and godly man does not fear bad news. God is still on the throne. Our times are in thy hands. The shield of believing faith will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Trusting and praising the Lord with a heart of joy will defeat the bad news of the enemy. My life is to glorify God regardless of the situations and circumstances of this life. The journey is to become like Jesus, confidently trusting in the Lord…. To cast all our cares upon him for he cares for us. The journey is to face our fears with confidence in the Lord to overcome trials and tribulations of life. Joy is a deliberate attitude of the heart as we focus our attention on the presence of the Lord. We rejoice in knowing that he is the one who causes us to triumph in Christ. Generosity in faith and rejoicing brings influence and honor.
God has called us to be overcomers, to have such confidence in him that we will be the reliable ones. When we are forgotten and neglected; when our good is evil spoken of and our opinions ridiculed and we take it all in patient loving silence, that is true humility. When we can stand face to face with folly and endure it all as Jesus endured, that’s true humility. When you never refer to yourself or record your good works in conversation, nor seek after commendation and seek not to be known, then you’re an overcomer. As Kipling said, “If you can look Disaster and Triumph in the face and treat those two imposters just the same, then you shall be a man, my son.”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael