Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
As we go through our daily lives we must overcome many things. Different obstacles, whether they be internal or external, are always going to persist. Simply put, life has its challenges (Job 14:1). For us to be successful we must work past these things and find a way to accomplish what is set before us. The Bible speaks often and plainly about overcoming obstacles in our spiritual life to obtain the goal of heaven as well. Hebrews 12:1 states, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Evil is all around us. With our world seeming so small, it’s almost impossible to escape. We can identify with Lot, being vexed by the deeds of the sinful Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Pet 2:7-8). We must teach ourselves not to respond with the same actions, rather we must overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21). After all, James 1:20 tells us, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God”. Also, it is good to be vexed as Lot was by sin. Being comfortable with sin is the first step to accepting it as allowable. One cannot conduct himself as a Christian and act like the sinful world around us (1 John 5:4-5). We are instructed by the scriptures to be different so that we might shine as light (Matt 5:13-16). The way to overcome evil is to oppose it with good, it is the only solution.
Overcoming the obstacle of self is accomplished by focusing on something bigger. This is one of the many reasons being an active and dedicated member of the congregation is so very important. Let’s look to our young people as an example. Many of them are active and successful in extracurricular activities at school. They accomplish this by selflessly giving of themselves and expending great effort for the benefit of the others with whom they have joined themselves. Shouldn’t we desire to do the same in the church? Matthew 16:24 teaches us that commitment for our spiritual victory is commitment to Jesus. The key to overcoming self is a commitment to something much bigger than yourself.
Everything we have to overcome in this life falls under these two categories: the sin that is in the world and the struggle within ourselves not to be enticed by it (1 John 2:15-17). Let us overcome simply by focusing on the goal. Remember Jude 1:21: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life”.
By Jason Barger