Conflict. It’s essential in fiction.

Sherlock needs Moriarty. Batman needs the Joker. Wesley needs Prince Humperdinck.

Without conflict, our hero remains—ordinary.

Gandalf still wears gray. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy remain in England. Harry Potter grows up without that scar.

Many question God regarding evil—why He permits it. Why did He create Satan when He knew the trouble he would cause? Why did God create man when He knew Adam would fall? Why doesn’t He stop the terrible things that happen in our world each and every day?

We know He can.

But Satan is not God’s equal, nor His nemesis. Satan is merely a fallen angel whom God has temporarily given limited elbowroom.

When Satan rebelled, one third of the angels followed him.

Two-thirds remained faithful. Pure. Holy.

The overcomers.

Let’s train with the angels this week:

• Overcome your unbelief. “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24 NIV) Where is your faith shaky? Ask God to strengthen your weak spots.
• Overcome your enemy. “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:13) The demonic host? Nothing but fallen angels. You are a son or daughter of the King.
• Overcome the world. “ . . . for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 Jn 5:4-5) Don’t roll over and play dead for the culture. Show the world something better.
• Overcome evil. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Revelation gives a list of rewards for overcomers:

• The right to eat from the tree of life (2:7)
• The crown of life (2:10)
• Hidden manna and a white stone with a new name (2:17)
• Authority over the nations and the morning star (2:26-28)
• White clothes; name in the book of life permanently; acknowledged by the Father (3:5)
• Pillar in God’s temple; God’s name written on him (3:12)
• The right to sit with Jesus on His throne (3:21)

Though Adam’s sin brought a death sentence to all mankind, Jesus overcame, and for those who bear His name, He asks the same.

He asked Esther to overcome Haman, David to overcome Goliath, and Elijah to overcome the prophets of Baal.

He also asked Samson to overcome his flesh, Saul to overcome his insecurity, and Solomon to overcome his foolishness.

Shed ordinary and train to be an overcomer. Nail your spiritual workouts and change your corner of the gym.

Workout of the Week: Heroes, Villains, and Overcoming

Memory Verse: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Meditation Passage: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

Just Do It: Shed ordinary.

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