April 17th, 2025
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
With the Easter weekend upon us, our minds are automatically enthralled into the work of Christ at Calvary and His glorious resurrection from the dead. At this time, Christians are likely the most energized in their faith and love for the Lord, or at least they appear to be so on the surface. We should wonder if underneath all the vibrant Easter colours if there are battles and struggles that are hiding. Is Easter simply a religious festival filled with a bunch of hype and excitement? Or, is it simply masking the true the state of our hearts? We normally discover this reality once it's all over.
If we are truly honest with ourselves, we know that we're not completely focused on the cross and empty tomb all year round. What are we concerned with? We are likely consumed with our present day troubles and worries, not the events of Christ that occurred 2,000 years ago. Although we try our best to focus on Jesus, He often gets misplaced and replaced by other things. We have broken relationships to worry about. We have concerns with our children or spouse. We have issues with our workplace or even issues finding work. We have prayers and longings that have gone unanswered. We have illnesses and diseases. We have sins and addictions. There are strenuous battles we fight every day. We want to worship Jesus and thank Him for His victory but at the same time we feel as though we have been defeated by everything else happening around us. We have a victorious saviour and yet, we don't always feel victorious.
This feeling of defeat and constant struggle is precisely why we need the Easter story. We need the story of Jesus Christ and the eternal victory He purchased for our sake. It is the key to overcoming the ailments of this life. It is the secret to having unending hope and security. Jesus Christ, His cross and His empty tomb are not ancient artifacts for us to gaze upon once a year at Easter, they must become our every day reality. The glory of Christ's redemption is in every sense our own living redemption. His story has become our story. His victory has become our victory.
This is what John is pointing at in our verse today. Everyone born of God has overcome the world! Because Christ died and because He lives, we can face tomorrow! We were baptized with Him through His death in order that, just as Christ was raised to life, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:4). Jesus never promised that this world would save us or comfort us. He told us that we would have trouble in this world. But the greatest news in all of history is that He has overcome this world (John 16:33). And because He has overcome, we too are overcomers. Whatever suffering this world has inflicted upon you, remember, it is nothing compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
This is our hope today. If you believe by faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who reigns in victory, nothing can defeat you. Nothing can steal your hope or steal your joy. Though this world may be against us, our God is for us, and He shall crown us with victory after victory (Romans 8:31-34).