It’s A Process
Surviving is a process you must go through on the road to becoming an overcomer. No matter how you look at it, the process you go through from survivor to overcomer, even though it might be an uncomfortable experience, is working for your good if you have a relationship with Christ.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
A survivor demonstrates resilience and enough courage to survive any misfortune, hardship, setback, or temptation he may face. After the attack, although the battle may have been tough, he continues to operate in his calling and experience spiritual growth. The attack may present itself over and over again, and the survivor may live through it each time to talk about it, but he never completely overcomes it. Although the survivor may live through the experience, his inability to defeat and overcome the attack or opposition can stunt his spiritual growth and set him back for years or even a lifetime.
Help And Victory Is In God Alone
On the other hand, an overcomer suffers through an attack, opposition, or temptation and not only lives through it to talk about it, but also rises up to victoriously defeat the attacker, opposition, or temptation. Overcoming and rising above an attack will free an individual from being emotionally bogged down for years with the pain and suffering that accompanies the experience. The very experience of the attack and a determination to be victorious will strengthen the overcomer and give him the courage to move forward in his Godly purpose.
An overcomer understands that his help and victory is in God alone. As long as there is no giving up and a humbling before God, every battle that is fought will end in victory and strengthen the overcomer.
He That Overcomes Shall Inherit All Things
The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden has produced age after age of sin and wickedness in man, but God has made great and wonderful promises to those who overcome this wickedness and sin. In the end, He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more pain, death, and remembering of the past. They will enjoy their heavenly inheritance in peace, and God will be their God and they will forever belong to Him. The inheritance promised to God’s people was not promised to survivors’, but to overcomers.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:4-7)
Some Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God
God has also made a promise of judgement towards those who don’t overcome sin. They will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Although not all-inclusive, examining these scriptures gives us a short list of individuals who will be judged and condemned:
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
From the scriptures above, we find that entering into the Kingdom of God is not automatic and there will be some who will not make it in. When we preach the gospel of Christ and stand for righteousness, we must go through and endure many hardships and persecutions down here on earth that will ultimately prepare us for entrance into the kingdom of God.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
The Bible Encourages Overcoming
Today we do find some in the world who have survived all sorts of abuse, addiction, cancer, etc. These survivors may settle for surviving, but the Bible encourages believer’s to desire greater, to be victorious and overcome.
For those struggling to overcome an addiction, you must first admit your dependency on that addiction and that you cannot overcome it alone. Secrets have the power to keep you in bondage. You need God, His Word, and to frequently talk to someone about your addiction whom you can trust. Don’t deny your addiction or attempt to rationalize it with thoughts that attempt to find excuses or lesson your responsibility to deal with the addiction. When you defeat your nonchalant attitude towards your addiction and seek God’s help, victory will come, and you will be an overcomer.
Whether your addiction is pornography, alcohol, depression, gambling, overeating, etc., God can help you overcome it. You may think there’s no hope and that you cannot quit, but God is your hope. There is no one on this earth more capable and willing to help you more than God. There is nothing impossible nor hard for Him to do. The God who created and sustains the universe is the same God who created you and is able to sustain you.
Turn Away From The Source Of Your Addiction Towards The Source Of Your Help
God is the source we must turn to if we want to overcome our addictions. The only way to tap into that source is to turn away from the source of our addiction, cut it off. Avoid the internet for a while, throw out the alcohol and the cigarettes, and avoid those isles in the grocery stores. Talk to God daily in prayer and stay in His Word.
Victory will come when we overcome the lust of the flesh or lustful passions, the lust of the eyes or lustful possessions, and the pride of life or lustful positions. We must overcome worldly passions and all that is in the world. All that we say, do, and strive for in life must line up with God’s Word and His purpose for us.
There are so many of us who fall into the trap of discontentment when attempting to obtain possessions. We always want more, no matter the cost, no matter if our bank account says we can’t afford it. We see it, and we just have to have it. This is dangerous thinking, and it can lead us to financial ruin.
Overcoming pride is a challenge for some. Pride lies to us and deceives us into thinking and trying to prove to ourselves that we don’t need God. We exalt ourselves and want others to exalt us rather than God. When we search for the root of sin, we find pride. Pride quickly destroys our spiritual life and stops our walk with God dead in its tracks because it challenges God, and it is an enemy of God.
“God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
Resist The Temptation And The World’s System
If you want to be an overcomer you must resist temptation and the world’s system. An overcomer has learned to lean and depend upon God for strength and guidance through tests and trials.
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” (Revelation 2:26)
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
First John 5:4–5 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
The world is a believer’s battleground where victory must be won. Standing firm, resisting temptation, and trusting in God are key factors in becoming more than a conqueror and an overcomer.