Overcoming Obstacles: Part Two

The phrase “He that overcometh” or “To him that overcometh” is one of the most used phrases in the book of Revelation. There are many challenges to overcome along the path of life. There are major obstacles that are unavoidable, and some that we must overcome before we can enter heaven.

According to the word of God, it is imperative that we overcome sin (Romans 6:12), the world (1 John 5:4) and the “mark of the beast” (Revelation 15:2). Life’s struggles and challenges are many, but nothing to compare to the crises just before us. We must now build resilience and fortitude that will give our experiences true meaning and depth in Christ.

1 John 5:4 — For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Only faith in Christ will enable us to overcome the struggles before us. He overcame the world (John 16:33), and through faith in Him we shall prevail against all obstacles. Through the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we shall be more than conquerors.

Revelation 2:7 — He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Reward of victory

Revelation 2:7 introduces the first promise to the overcomer: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” The tree of life was one of the first things to be taken from Adam and Eve after the fall.

Genesis 3:22 — And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.

But to those who are overcomers, it will be restored as a reward of victory. We shall have the pleasure of partaking of the tree of life again. When all our obstacles and struggles are passed, we shall be in paradise, and the tree of life shall be restored in the midst.

All obstacles will be gone forever: death, disease, hatred, prejudice, malice, envy, exploitation, sin and all evil inventions and actions will be no more.

Through Christ, you and I can be overcomers.

This is the second part. Overcoming Obstacles takes up Matthew 24:13 and what enduring to the end will cost, and Part Three turns to Romans 5:20 and the promise that the overcomer shall not be hurt of the second death. Part Four takes up Revelation 2:17 — the hidden manna, the white stone and the new name.

Part Five takes up Revelation 2:26-28 — power over the nations, and the morning star; and Part Six turns to Revelation 3:5 — the white raiment, and the name confessed before the Father; and Part Seven takes up Revelation 3:12 — the pillar in the temple, and the three names written on the overcomer.

If this study has raised something you would like to talk through, the team reads every message: ask a Bible question, or send a prayer request.

To go further on the promises to the overcomer, the Three Angels’ Messages set out the final warning and the mark of the beast named above, and Time Shall Be No More takes up the close of probation. On the faith by which the victory comes, Getting to Know Jesus takes up Philippians 3:10 and what it means to know Christ personally rather than to know about Him.