BEN F. VICK, JR.
Seven times the expression “he that overcometh” or its equivalent is repeated to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3. The word “overcome” means “to carry off the victory, come off victorious.” It means he that is a winner. With this expression, seven different figures are used to describe the victor’s reward. Note them with me please:
2:7 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
2:11 “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
2:17 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
2:26 “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”
3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
3:21 “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.”
All of these blessings promised “to him that overcometh” are simply different ways of expressing the same reward—heaven. If we are victorious in this life, there awaits us a crown of life in the world to come. But if we miss heaven, we are losers indeed.
We are not discussing significant victories on the field, court, or golf course. We do not even have in mind winning some important lawsuit where one has had to go to court. How much shouting for joy can one do if he wins the next big sweepstakes but misses heaven? Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26.) It is not necessarily wrong to be the beneficiary of a great sum of money; but if one loses his soul, he is a loser.
God wants us to be victorious over temptations. The devil is still on the prowl (I Pet. 5:8). His efforts to tempt man and his ways have not changed. John wrote, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I Jn. 2:16). Satan tempted Jesus in these ways, but Christ did not yield (Heb. 4:15; II Cor. 5:21). Each time, our Lord answered, “It is written.” But having God’s word in our hearts, we can keep sin out of our lives (Psa.119:11; I Jn. 2:1). Jesus overcame sin; that is, he was victorious. He did no sin. We sin (Rom. 3:23), but we can be victorious over sin by obedience to the gospel (Acts 22:16; I Jn. 1:7).
Persecution is inevitable to the faithful servant of God. Paul said, “All that live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus said, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” (Matt. 10:24-25). In another place, Jesus said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;…” (Jn. 15:20). When we are hated, reproached and cast down and out for righteousness’ sake, then we are to rejoice (I Pet. 4:12-16). We are to endure the reproaches which come our way because of the gospel in order that we might gain the victory (Jas. 1:12). Jesus overcame, and so can we through him. Paul, who suffered more in a lifetime for the cause of Christ that we would if we were to have three lives, said, “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:35-39).
But what do we do when someone has wronged us? Perhaps, he has intentionally done so. The reaction of the world is to strike back, get even, and take matters into our own hands. Paul wrote, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21).
Has someone—some brother or sister in Christ, or someone in the world—done you wrong? Then, do not let evil be victorious over you, but be a winner by kindness and goodness. By the force which resides in goodness, i.e., in kindness, motivate that one who has done you wrong to repent.
This does not mean that a Christian should allow people to run over him. Even Jesus, when he was struck by one of the officers at his trial, turned and said to him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?” (Jn. 18:23). This reaction of our Lord was not done just because a personal attack had been made on him, but to uphold the justice of the law. But in spite of the fact that justice was not served, he overcame. And so can we.
The only way to be a winner is to be a faithful child of God no matter what comes our way.