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HE WHO OVERCOMES (REVELATION 21:1-7) LENT DAY 18

REFLECTION

“He who overcomes” is the theme for our reflection. To overcome means to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something. “He who overcomes” in the context of our theme and Scripture reading means to defeat or triumph over sin to receive the gift of eternal life. It is important to answer the question, ‘What will happen to he who fails to overcome sin?’ The answer is given to us in Revelation 21:8, when Jesus said, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Beloved in the Lord, we have been greatly assured in the book of Revelation that there is a great reward of eternal life for the one who will overcome sin. Jesus said, “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. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children” (Revelation 21:6-7) Dear friend, do we really have what it takes to overcome sin to inherit the Kingdom of God? Jesus gives us the answer when the disciples asked the question “…Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:25-26). In other words, when we follow the perfect examples of Jesus Christ and remain faithful and obedient to the Word of God, we shall overcome sin through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. To demonstrate to us that we can overcome, Zechariah 4:6, further assures us that “It is Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Dear friend in the Lord, are you battling with sin? Are you battling with substance abuse or addicted to an unproductive character or bad habit that offends God? Have you been defeated and have you become a slave to dishonesty, corruption and sexual immorality? Have you been rendered powerless by sin? You are greatly encouraged that if you are willing to repent and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, He will save you and give you the power and ability through the enablement of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). When Paul received forgiveness and salvation in Christ to overcome sin, he testified “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Again, when Jesus reigns over our lives, we shall overcome sin. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7). May this Lent season and its daily reflections be a turning point in our lives even as we overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “He who overcomes” We have discovered that through faith in Jesus Christ and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we shall overcome sin and inherit the Kingdom of God or everlasting life.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, empower us to remain prepared and triumphant over sin and temptations even as we await the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.