“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:3-5)

When we look into the life of the Apostle John, we find one with a working man’s beginning, who later in life would be exiled and see the wonder of our eternity with Jesus. He penned five of our New Testament books. He stood at the cross of Jesus, and as he watched Jesus die, was given charge of caring for Jesus’ mother by Jesus from the cross. After Pentecost, he would stand with Peter as they proclaimed Jesus to the Sanhedrin, where the Sanhedrin noticed they had been with Jesus. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) From fisherman to exile, the world would see a man who was banished from society, and yet, John knew that His life was one of victory.

He knew victory because he knew Jesus. He wrote, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:12-14) Victory comes to those who are children of God. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

It is through our relationship with God where we find our victory over this world because God has given us victory over death into eternal life. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 54-57)

We have this victory because of our faith in Jesus Christ. We are also to live in victory as we live this life experiencing God’s power to overcome our sin. This comes because of our love for God. When we love God, we desire to obey Him. “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) With our faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus is here now to help us overcome our sin. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

In this victory, we are learning the ways of God, where He transforms our lives. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) While God is transforming our lives, we live in His victory with the knowledge of our victory in Jesus Christ.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’” (Revelation 21:5-7)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block