This phrase, found some eight times in the Book of Revelation, declares so very clearly that the Christian must beat this world and its temptations, if he wants to get to Heaven. It cannot be said too often that we are at war: with the world’s standards (1 John 2:15-17), with the world’s peer pressure (Romans 12:2) and with the world’s god (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). As creatures of flesh as well as spirit, this would seem impossible.
Yet, as Paul said, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Romans 7:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:56-58). We can triumph over all these things so that we can have good hope of hearing on the Last Day, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21; Romans 8:31-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17).
The answer is simple and, yet, involved. “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). It is also the grace found in the propitiation that covers our sins forever, found in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). It is also our faithful endurance to the Faith, our consistent obedience at all costs to endure to the end (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
It is not impossible for us. In fact, every Christian has this power to overcome (Acts 2:39-42). However, Heaven and our God must mean everything to us. We must love nothing more than Him.
