Overcomers

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? - 1 John 5v4-5

Yesterday I saw a fellow pastor and his son on a national television programme. The topic was teen sexuality and abstinence. Our friends were on because their sixteen year old triplets have all decided to obey the Lord and remain sexually pure until marriage.

Although mostly polite, the hosts and other members of the panel simply did not understand. One woman opposed the entire concept of sexual purity claiming that it might even be dangerous. Some may have felt that the pastor and his son ‘held their own’ at best. .

And yet, he and his son were overcomers. Their faith was clear and no one could argue that. By the time they were done they had not obviously swayed any opinions, but they had earned the panel’s respect. Their testimony for the Lord was clear and they honoured the Lord by their presence. That young man showed a whole nation that his desire to please God was more important than satisfying his fleshly desires. His dad showed a firm stand for the Lord in a gracious, loving, but uncompromising manner. A teen in our church was greatly encouraged by their faith and their stand as her friends and even family are encouraging her to let down these barriers.

Our faith is what overcomes even in challenging times like this. The on screen ‘battle’ might have seemed like a ‘draw’ to many viewers, but a dad and his son were the eternal overcomers. Praise God for them and their courage.