“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelations 3:5).
This is an amazing promise from Jesus. However, sadly, many people hear this promise as a condition to be met and not a promise that gives birth to peace and joy in their hearts.
Religion or performance-based Christianity uses this verse as a threat that if you don’t “overcome” until the very end, you will be blotted out of the book of life. This turns one of the most comforting promises Jesus ever made to His followers into a condition to be met, instead of an experience of the heart.
Jesus didn’t tell us if we didn’t overcome He would blot our names out of the book of life. He was teaching us that because we are “overcomers” in Him, our names will never be blotted out of the book of life!
So what or who is an “overcomer”? Once we answer this question we can understand why we never have to fear being blotted out of the book of life.
Religion teaches people that being an overcomer is up to them. They must be holy to overcome the Devil, or they must live a sinless life to have power from God to overcome in this life. The list goes on with everything religion teaches a person must do to become an overcomer in life.
Unfortunately, many believers caught up in this type of thinking are confused, insecure, and fearful. They wonder if all they are doing is enough to help them overcome in life and keep their names from being blotted out of the book of life.
The key to being an overcomer in Christ has nothing at all to do with your performance. It has everything to do with what you believe in your heart about what Jesus has accomplished for you!
Nowhere does the Bible teach us that we overcome in life based on our strengths, performances, or abilities. In fact, quite the opposite is taught about how we as believers are to live as overcomers. This may come as a shock to some but when you get over the shock, I can promise you your heart will be filled with peace and joy.
How does the apostle Paul describe an overcomer? In Romans 8:35-39, he teaches believers that it doesn’t matter all the difficulties they face in life or that they are the target of persecution. What really matters is they can “overcome” all of it because God loves them.
“But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us” (Romans 8:37).
What makes us “overcomers” is the fact God loves us. So an overcomer is simply a person who is loved by God and knows it.
Relax and rest in the love God has for you. It doesn’t matter what trials, tribulations, and persecutions you are facing. As long as you know God loves you, you are guaranteed to overcome in every situation.
We are “overcomers” because God loves us!