The Importance Of A Positive Attitude

Romans chapter 12, verse 21, says,

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.”

So, we have two options, and only two. We can overcome, or we can be overcome, but there's nothing in between.

And when we're confronted by evil, there's only one thing that's strong enough to overcome evil, and that is good. We cannot take a negative attitude. We cannot simply say, “It's not my problem.” We have to actively practice that which is good.

“Do not become overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.”

And Romans 8:35 and following says,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’”

That's pretty negative teaching, isn't it?

Some people object to negative teaching. They say, “Brother, be positive.” But the negative is also true. People who sell phony shares on the stock market are very positive, but they're dishonest. I believe, as Christians, we have to face the negative. We cannot close our eyes or avert our heads. There is trouble ahead.

I believe there's much more trouble ahead than most of us can even comprehend at the moment. But that doesn't mean we have to be pessimistic. What is Paul's comment?

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

What is all these things? There's a list: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword.

And then Paul says,

“In all these things we are more than conquerors.”

I once asked the Lord what it meant to be more than a conqueror. I felt the answer He gave me was this: to be more than a conqueror means that you go into a trouble, overcome it, and come out of the trouble with more than you went in with. You've taken spoil.

First John chapter 4, only two more scriptures. First John chapter 4, verse 4:

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them,” all the forces of evil, “because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Actually, it's incredibly stupid of the devil ever to think that he could take God on. I mean, we can't absorb the stupidity. The God who created the whole universe and keeps it in perfect order, and some created being challenges this God. There was an American philosopher who said about the devil, “He's a consummate ass.” I'm not using empty words. I'm just pointing out it's the height of stupidity what the devil has done.

But,

“He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.”

One other scripture and we close. Revelation 21:7:

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

I have searched the New Testament. I cannot find any promise there except for those who overcome. And you only have two options: either overcome or be overcome. So, we, all of us, each of us, has to make up our mind. I can overcome.

“Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”

But I have to make my mind up. I have to meet the conditions.