“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.”

In this verse we have another indicator of our love for God – our personal faith in Him. If we truly love God and have a living and real faith, we will be able to overcome the corruption which is in our world. We will be able to resist its temptations and delights, that feed our flesh and take our hearts away from the Lord. The hearts of the people of this world are at enmity with God, so the fruits of it will necessarily take us away from Christ and keep our interest in earthly things rather than the spiritual realities of a life walking with God. Those who have been made alive to God are dead to this world, and have no interest in it. It’s gaudy pleasures and fallen mindsets are far way from the reality of Christ.

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Galatians 6:13

We can be victorious over it, by the mercy of the Lord. He gives the motivation and strength to overcome in the greatest temptations and leads our feet on straight paths. He teaches us also to walk these paths and keep ourselves in the love of God.

“… and make straight paths for your feet…”

Hebrews 12:13

It is the life of determined faith that will stand the test of time and reach the victorious courts of heaven. We cannot afford to play about with this world, for it easily leads us down wrong pathways and many spiritual dead ends. As we stay close to our Saviour in His Word and in prayer, so we will gain the victory through His power. We cannot have it all ways. We must endeavour and persist in godliness with singleness of purpose, to be over-comers. God will lead and uphold us, but we must follow. We have no personal power, so the closer we stay to the Lord, the greater our victories will be.