“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”  (1 John 5:4).

Have you ever had the experience of being torn away from an important train of thought by an angry-looking individual accusing you of staring at them? Perhaps you were right on the verge of an epiphany in your contemplating the vast mysteries of life, but Mr. Angry-guy thinks you should stop looking at him.

Of course, you were not looking at him; you were looking through him. Your mind had carried your eyes thousands of miles away and Mr. Angry-guy was nowhere in sight.

This is the experience of our text. We all know that each day has evil sufficient thereto (Matthew 6:34); and that the whole world lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19). This simply means that trials, testings, hurts, hang-ups, worries, woes, cares, concerns, etc. are a very real and natural part of life. If we walk in the Spirit, the world will oppose us: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13).

But we do not have to lose hope as though we were in danger of being overcome, for Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33); “…and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4b).

Our problem is that we don’t see our victory because we’re looking at the battle with eyes of flesh and not the spiritual eyes of Faith. We see the enemy, but God wants us to see the victory. This comes from relying not on our own abilities, but on God’s Promise.

Praise God, He has given us the Victory of Faith to overcome the enemies of the world! Through Faith we can see past the evils of each day unto the glory of a victorious life in Christ.

What are you looking at?