The Path of Overcomers

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death’ Rev.12:11 (NIV)

What a blessing it is to be able to know how things will end. No matter how dark things may become, the Bible tells us God is going to have a triumphant overcoming Church in the end. In Revelation we read of the end of this present Babylonic world system and find one clear characteristic of these last days:

‘A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”’ Rev.14:8 (NIV)

The nations are drinking from the maddening wine of Babylon. One does not have to be a prophet to see that there is madness loose upon the land. Men are misbehaving because of this madness. It is not that evil is new in this world, it is the increase of it and the acceptance it now enjoys that is new. Things that used to be taboo are now considered normal because of this madness. For example, if our high rate of divorce is no longer alarming it is because of this madness. There is madness loose upon the land, and it is because men are drinking of the maddening wine of Babylon’s adulteries. We drink it as we soak in the lies of our culture and allow them to squeeze us into their mode. We drink it through the corrupted mass media that seeks to condition our minds and appetites. We drink it as we are enticed by our own lust and choose little compromises in our daily lives. We drink it as we allow our appetites to rule us.

Yet in the midst of this madness God is raising up overcomers.

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. – Rev. 14:4-5(NASB)

The overcomers in these last days are going to be those who ‘follow the Lamb wherever he goes’, daily, even now on earth. They will be the ones who will follow him wherever he goes for all eternity.

When it says that they ‘do not defile themselves with women’ it is not because they are immune to such things, or, did not face temptation daily. It is because ‘they have kept themselves chaste’. Listen, while we are on this side of eternity we are never going to get to a place of never wanting to sin. In fact the temptation to sin will grow more intense. The path of sanctification begins and continues at the place of not wanting to sin. It lies in the place of keeping oneself by the grace of God from sin. We can choose to say ‘No’ to sin because Christ’s power is in us. We can overcome no matter how dark things around us become, because ‘everyone born of God overcomes the world’ (1 John 5:4).

Our call is not a call to our convenience, but a call to follow the Lamb of God no matter what it will cost us. And indeed it will cost us something. As the end of the age draws near one of the greatest virtues we the saints will need is patience – patient endurance. This is the ability to look beyond whatever we are going through and to keep our eyes on Jesus, his purpose and his promises. This is the ability to keep obeying him and staying faithful to him no matter what happens to us. This is the path of the overcomers. This is the path of blessedness. The world cannot overcome them. Trials and tribulations will serve only to promote such people. They will not be swallowed up. They will follow the Lamb of God for ever. These are the overcomers!