“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
When Jesus made the statement that He had overcome the world, at first everyone must have thought He was crazy. I mean, we could imagine someone like Caesar making such a boast, but Jesus? In fact, when He made this statement He was about to be betrayed by Judas, then carried away to be tried, convicted, and crucified. Doesn’t sound much like a person who has “overcome” the world.
But Jesus was not saying He had conquered the world like Napoleon had hoped to do. No, the “world” He was speaking of is the present world-system that is presently under the control of Satan, whom the Bible calls “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).
The “world” is the possessions, powers, and pleasures the earthly life offers. It is organized under the influence of Satan so as to leave God out, and keep man blinded to Christ. Basically, the “world” is anything that shuts God out. Because of this, John said we are not to have a love for this world.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)
It is this “world” through which Satan seduces souls away from God. It is just as alluringly attractive as it is deceptively destructive. And because of its allure, millions are overcome by it. But there was One who, though He was tempted by it, overcame it through absolute power and victory! It is He who said, “I have overcome the world.”
And the wonderful thing is that since we have His Spirit living in us, we can overcome the world, as well, because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
So, my question for you today is are YOU an overcomer? Are you overcoming this world’s allure that wants to lead you away from God or are you walking in the Spirit which will give you the power to be an overcomer?