Overcomer or Overcomed (Rev. 21:7-8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

11/26/2005

My Worship Time                  Focus: An overcomer or overcomed

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelation 21:7-8

            Message of the verse:  “7  ‘He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.  8  ‘But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’”

            This is still the Lord who is speaking here, and in these two verses there is much that is opposite.  He starts out by using the word “overcomer or overcomes” which is used eight times in this letter, and all believers are overcomers as John described in his first epistle:  “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?”  The Lord goes on to say that all of these overcomers will inherit all things, (KJV) (or this could mean the things described in the previous verses of this chapter).  Then the Lord assures his readers that He will be the God of these overcomers and they will be His children.

            Verse eight speaks of those who were overcomed by sin, and these are not God’s children nor will they have any part of His eternal Kingdom.  In verse eight the Lord gives some of the characteristics of those who have been overcomed by sin, and the description is not a good one.  He then goes on to say that their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

            Dr. Wiersbe tells a story in his commentary on Revelations about D. L. Moody, and the story goes that after the great Chicago fire D. L. Moody’s house was in a heap of rubble and a friend come up to him and made the comment that Mr. Moody had lost everything, and Mr. Moody said that he had not lost everything, but had much more, to which the man replied that he did not realize that Mr. Moody was a rich man, to which Mr. Moody replied with Revelation 21:7:  “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Revelation 21:7 has probably had a great deal of meaning to many people down through the ages, and even though the exact timing of when I will inherit all things that this verse points out, it give me hope that someday when this life on earth is over that I will stand with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and will inherit the things that He has spoken of in these verses.  This verse kind of makes things a bit less important here on this earth, and it also teaches me that I should not get so caught up in the things of this world, but have a proper perspective on them, that is that they are a gift from God, and that I am only but a steward of His things, and that I am to be faithful in my stewardship.  There are probably many times in the past where I have failed to do this is a proper, godly manner.

The Word of God has been refreshing, challenging, and convicting to my heart as I thought about it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  That I would have the proper perspective on the investment that I have with Andrew Lech at this time, and also have the proper perspective on it if, and when the Lord returns it to me.