Weekly Devotional 1-30-17 The Over-comer
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus, the risen glorified head of His church, appeared to John in a vision and commanded that he write in a book seven letters to be distributed to seven churches in Asia Minor. The letters contained commendations and condemnations. Two of the seven letters, Sardis and Laodicea, contain no commendation, and in two others, Smyrna and Philadelphia, no criticism is given. In that these letters were in a single book indicates that the Lord intended that each letter would be read by all seven churches. However, did the Lord intend that the book containing these letters be restricted to these seven churches, or was there to be a broader application? It seems that they have had application to the church down through the centuries. Certainly, the Lord intended the named seven churches to read and be directed by His message. In that the conditions found in these seven churches have also been found in the universal church down through the ages, the message is applicable to the church in general. Furthermore, each letter was to be read as a personal message not just corporately.
In six of the seven churches, the Lord speaks of those who overcome one unacceptable condition or another followed with a blessing. The questions that we should consider are, what does it mean to overcome? and who is he that overcomes? The Apostle John gives the answer to both questions in his first letter of encouragement to Christians of his day. This perhaps included Christians of the above named churches. We read from 1st John 5:1-5 (NKJV); “1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
An “Over-comer” then, is one who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed of God. Not an abstract belief, but a belief that moves one to a love for God and a commitment to Him. Such a love and commitment is found in following the Lord’s commands.
Jesus told Nicodemus, and to us indirectly, “18He who believes in Him (in Jesus) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:16-21 NKJV).
Believing (trusting) in and a sincere commitment to following Jesus and His commands are the qualifiers of one being an Over-comer.
Many who have read this little work are over-comers, but there may be some who are not. May I encourage such a one to seriously consider his or her consideration of God? Life does not end with the cessation of physical life, but continues either eternally in His presence or eternally banished from Him.
Lovingly submitted
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