By Rusty Stowe - Senior Adult Minister
Several years ago, a new television series hit the tube and it was called “Survivor.” It was reported that over 50 million people would tune in each week to see how the “tribe” would manage the week. They had a group of people who volunteered to be marooned on an island with the sole intent of voting each other out of their tribe and off of the island. The show was not about a tribe or a family, but it was all about SELF! We have all kinds of “survivors” in our world today. Tornado survivors, bombing survivors, earthquake survivors and the list goes on. But the Bible states plainly that we are to be more than just a survivor, we are to be “OVERCOMERS.” In 1 John 5 we read: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” So we become an overcomer by first receiving a NEW birth. In John chapter 3, scripture says that Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again or he could not see the kingdom of God. Secondly, to be an overcomer requires BELIEF. We do not become an overcome just by trying. It also requires TRUSTING. Paul says in Ephesians 2 that it is by grace that we have been saved through faith and that not of ourselves. It is time to stop TRYING and start TRUSTING! And finally, to become an overcomer requires the BLOOD. Sin demands a sacrifice and not just any sacrifice, but a blood sacrifice to pay for our sin. What Mustang needs right now is not just another survivor to continue playing a game, but real OVERCOMERS who are willing to take the risk of telling others about Jesus and His love for them.
Rusty