"To everyone who is VICTORIOUS I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God."
Do you want to be victorious in your life? Almost everyone wants to be a winner. In fact sometimes winning or being victorious in this life is taken to the extreme. How many times have you seen riots and mayhem at sporting contests? The competitive spirit and winning can become paramount and at the expense of morality and decency. Parents, participants and fans demand victory at any cost, including cheating or corruption. Everyone wants to be victorious but how many know how to define it?
Is victory a medal, a cup, a ribbon or a trophy? One thing is certain victory is fleeting and temporary on earth. Today's winner is tomorrows loser and vice versa. If these wins are temporary what is it that we hope to achieve that is lasting or permanent. What did it mean to John in Revelation for anyone to be victorious? The spirit tells us that if we have an ear then listen and understand what is being said. The spirit tells us that "he who overcomes and holds on to the very end in his belief and first love for the Lord will be VICTORIOUS! Those who obey God's commandments to the very end have victory. Those who keep doing the works that please God are victors. In God's eyes we must overcome the world and hold on fast to the Word of God until He returns.
God's promise is "to everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God". Do you want life? Do you want to avoid separation from God and death? Do you want to spend eternity in paradise with the Lord. Do you want to eat of the fruit of the tree of life. If you know, fear and love God then you do not have to worry about your salvation and you will hold out until the very end of your life. At the end of the race, and our lives, we will receive the promise and the prize from God. It is not fleeting or temporary, it is permanent. This is what it means to be VICTORIOUS.
