Who do we believe?

For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden, because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world.

This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. (1 John 5:3-4)

This world throws a lot at us. In the words of Paul, it throws at us trouble, hardships, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword. (Romans 8:35)

And yet, Paul says in all this we are more than conquerors though Christ who loved us. (Romans 8:37).

John essentially says the same thing here. What gives us victory over this world and all that it throws at us? Faith. Faith that our God is good. Faith that he loves us. Faith that he knows what is best. Faith that he wants our best.

This world we live in is marked by unbelief. It’s a world that essentially calls God a liar. And when we face all that the world throws at us, it’s easy to fall into disbelief. To let disbelief crush us.

And when disbelief crushes us, God’s commands become a burden. Living for him becomes a burden.

But with faith comes victory and joy despite our circumstances.

Whose testimony will we receive? This world’s? Or God’s?

One leads to death. One leads to life.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (11-12)