Who Can Prevail?

Who wins in the end? To be honest, right now it seems like evil is winning. Sin runs rampant. Morality is being twisted so that good is called bad and bad good. Right and wrong are confused, and it looks like it is only going to get worse. How long will this continue? Who can overcome the evil we see?

John 16:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

Jesus made this promise to His disciples shortly before He was arrested. He never promised a peaceful, happy, easy life to His followers. Rather it is the opposite. Trouble in this life is not a sign of God’s disfavor, but rather a sign that we are His followers. It is also part of living in a sin-filled world. Evil is all around us, but we are not to be afraid. We need to remember Who has overcome this world. It will get worse, but it will not end this way. He has already defeated the world of darkness and its time is limited. But how does that help us?

Romans 12:21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Peter 2:18-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (emphasis added)

For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

It is obviously important that we not be overcome by evil, not even for the sake of fighting evil. We need to stay away from it entirely for it is wholly bad and will corrupt any who entertain it. The only way we can fight evil is with the Word of Christ because He is the only One who can overcome it. We need to be careful and watch who we listen to, for many who promise freedom actually spread bondage. There is no true freedom where we can live to govern ourselves. We are either a slave to God or a slave to corruption. There is no door #3. We must stay away from the dark side. But is this even possible?

1 John 4:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

We can overcome, not because we are strong, but because the One who is in us has overcome. It is through God’s strength that we can fight, and it is His power we can use, only His. If we are truly born of God, have been born again in salvation, then we have access to this power and have the ability to overcome evil. We have the ability to resist temptation. But we have to choose to submit to God. We have to choose to fight evil with God’s power and not our own. We have to give glory for victory to God.

What are you overcome by? Do you need God’s power to help you overcome? Will you submit to Him?