The Promise to the Overcomer

If living the Christian life becomes a series of dos and don'ts, a checklist, then it becomes a burden, and we lose our joy.

The Promise to the Overcomer

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

(1 John 5:3)

Notice the promise in verse 3. The word burdensome is barys. The KJV translates it as grievous. The word means heavy, grave, or a load. The same word is used in Acts 20:29, translated as savage, as Paul described the false teachers. If we do not understand the tremendous significance of this verse, we can lose the joy of the relationship and deteriorate into a rule-observing religion. We can get caught up in doing all the right things that we lose sight of the One for whom we are doing it.

If living the Christian life becomes a series of dos and don'ts, a checklist, then it becomes a burden, and we lose our joy.

The reason Jesus' commandments are not burdensome is that He gives us the strength to obey them. He enables us to do what we cannot do in our own strength, and that is to obey Him. Also, His commandments are not burdensome, because when we mess up, He still loves us and will forgive us when we ask. In Matthew 11:30, Jesus states, "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

This is where many genuine seekers say no to Christ. They know how Christians are supposed to live, and they think to themselves that there is no way they can live that way, so they turn away from Christ. Partly, they do not wish to be hypocrites. While I understand their position, I wholeheartedly disagree with their reasoning. What they fail to understand is, the God who invites them to serve Him will enable them to do what He asks if they only trust Him.

Dr. Brian Harbour says, "Why is it not burdensome to keep God's commandments? Because of the power which is available to the Christian. Humanly speaking, the Christian life is impossible. Who can resist temptation, on his own? Who can love the unlovely, on his own? Who can build a Christian home, on his own? Who can bear fruit for Christ, on his own? No one can, on his own. But that is precisely the point. We don't have to do it on our own." (Source: Harbour, sermon on 1 John 5:3, p. 4)

God never asks you to do something without granting you the power to do it. We simply must trust Him and step out of the boat if we desire to walk on water.

What great things does God want you to accomplish, but fear is holding you back? He is with you; He loves you; God is for you. Go for it!