You have overcome
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (NIV) 1 John 4:4
Is it possible to have righteous people in a world that is so corrupt? I often ponder over this question when fellow Christians call for my opinion on paying a bribe or performing a certain favor to have something done for them because that is what the person in charge is demanding.
Dear reader, you would agree with me that we currently living in a world where the line separating unrighteousness and righteousness is very blur. And this enables Christians to easily compromise and cross the line anytime they are tempted. Our decision to cross the line often emanates from fear; the fear of losing our jobs; the fear of failure; the fear of falling out of favor; the fear of premature death etc.
In cases where we succumb to the temptation, we try to clear our conscience with saying such as “after all, the society is not condemning what I did and other people are even engaging in worse things...” But let us always remember, “we are in the world but not of the world" (John 17:16); we are to be the light in the dark world; we are to salt the sour world to make it taste better (Matthew 5:13-16). If we follow the same line as the rest of the world, then we fail to recognize He who is in us (1 John 3:24).