How to Win! 

     "To him who overcomes," Jesus says seven times in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, and he will give unspeakable rewards: the tree of life, escape from second death, a permanent place in the Book of Life and the privilege of being in his presence. 

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     "Jesus doesn't say 'to him who has faith, or who loves, or who obeys,' although those would be true. In Revelation, he emphasizes incentives to saints who might remain in a sin. 

     "Overcoming suggests final victory. It looked like followers were never going to master their temper, pride, or that silent treatment strategy. The devil may have told them it was no big deal. 'Christ is enough.' 

     "Jesus didn't talk like that. Each soul has its own weakness (as did the seven churches in Revelation). When Jesus tells us to overcome, he is referring to that area of bondage that has wrecked our relationship all along. He insists that overcoming is doable. A divine command comes with grace to obey it. 

     "Overcoming is so highly valued by the angels 'there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent' - Luke 15:7. If a person doesn't deal with a sin, God will provide obstacles until he or she either obeys or dies without victory - 1 Corinthians 3:12. 

     "He only wants our overcoming ... he the landowner who doled out the same reward (pay) to the 11th-hour hires as to those hired earlier" - Parable in Matthew chapter 20.