The Overcomers

​“Mom, I can’t wait to go to heaven and see God,” my 5-year-old daughter sweetly told me one morning.
 
“Oh, yeah? Well one day we will be in heaven with God and Jesus and our family, “ I replied.
 
“Yeah...I love God and all the people in the Kingdom!” she replied with a big smile.
 
My big “little girl” has been asking me lots of questions about God, Jesus, heaven, clouds, bugs, how to draw hearts, and even how to make cookies so she can have them for breakfast. She gets that sweet tooth from me! I’ve been teaching her simple lessons from the Bible here and there. But during the Easter season, I explained  the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“This is the most important story I will ever tell you, kids,” I started.
 
I told them how God sent His only Son Jesus because he loved us so much. A very long time ago Jesus was born, lived on the earth for 33 years, and then died on the cross for our sins. Three days later he was raised from the dead and now lives in heaven.
 
In the same way I taught my kids over breakfast, the author of 1 John teaches and encourages the church. In the fifth chapter specifically, the writer makes very clear statements of what we know to be true of our faith. 1 John 5 says that God keeps His children safe and the evil one cannot harm them. We also are assured we know that the Son of God, Jesus, has given us understanding so we can know the truth of Jesus Christ.
 
So what does all of that mean for busy moms at breakfast time? Well, these truths in 1 John 5 give us assurance of Salvation and insight into our Christian walk. We can have confidence in who we are as Children of God. We know that the powers of darkness can not harm us, even though the world is under the influence of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God gives us understanding so we can know what (and Who) is truth.
 
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important story in all of history. I could feel it’s life-changing power stir up within my heart as I explained the cross to my children that spring morning. And all throughout the scriptures we are encouraged as believers to remember the cross and take hold of the resurrection power of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Yes, one day we will go to heaven and be with all the people in “the kingdom,” as my daughter says.
 
I told the Good News to my three sweet babies over pancakes that morning and could barely get through it without tears in my eyes. I was overcome with emotion of my own salvation, and joyful at the reunion of the saints in heaven one day. Yes, my children, WE have overcome the world because Jesus overcame the world.
 
But remember, Child of God, who you are and whose you are. Remember that we can live a life of faith rather than fear because the evil one cannot harm us. Keep clinging to Jesus, who is the way, truth, and life (Jn 14:6). And while we wait to go to heaven and see our Savior, let’s remind ourselves every day that because of Jesus we have overcome this world!

Memory Verse: ”Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:5 NIV

About the Author

My name is Audra Powers and I'm a wife and stay-at-home mom to three young children in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico. My hobbies include hiking, playing guitar and thrifting! I love writing about faith, family and motherhood.

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