He who overcomes will inherit all this or all these things, referring to the preceding six verses.

"He who overcomes." Here is a remarkable statement.

Some are saying today the meaning of "who overcomes" is who makes a decision for Christ according to the four steps of salvation. I take a very dim view of this interpretation myself, how about you?

Actually, to overcome is to surmount obstacles and pressures.

Anyone who has been a Christian for a period of time understands very well that each day finds us either overcoming or else being overcome.

One of the biggest foes of the Christian is boredom. The temptation is to give up the Christian walk and turn back into the world. We have to overcome this temptation!

Sometimes we are grievously hurt and we want revenge. We must overcome the desire for revenge if we are to walk with Jesus.

Sometimes we are tempted with lust. Pornography is a big item on the Internet. People, including Christians, are becoming addicted to pornography. If we are to please God we have to overcome the actions and thoughts of all forms of lust including pornography.

There are believers who continually are jesting and speaking foolishness. Yet the Scripture warns against foolish talk. We must overcome foolishness and jesting by the power of the Spirit of God.

Drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol offer a way of escaping temporarily the pains and dreads of life. We are required to overcome these substances because they destroy our body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.

For many people the desire to amass much money is very strong. The Bible warns us against the love of money and so we must turn away from the temptation to spend our time and energy building our bank account.

There are numerous activities and occupations available to the Christians in America. It is very easy to become so involved with education, computers, diet, the developing of a talent, that we do not spend enough time in prayer and Bible reading. These various interests must be set aside if we are to redeem the time.

Some people are lazy and want to lay around all day and watch television. We have to conquer this trait if we are to be considered an overcomer.

Some people are workaholics and never spend time with the Lord or their family. They do not get enough rest and relaxation. Excessive work destroys the body and must be conquered.

There are Christians who are afraid of pressing forward in the Lord. Sometimes they are afraid of the opinion of people. Fear can be overcome by the power of Christ. Cowardice is destined for the Lake of Fire.

There are believers who desire to be prominent, to be looked upon as some great one. The lust for self-aggrandizement is to be driven from the personality.

There are disobedient believers who do not do what the Lord has told them to do, either in the written Word or spoken to them personally. No disobedient individual will inherit the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.