It’s not in the shoes, but it’s in our God

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

—1 John 5:4 (NASB)

The founders of one of the world’s biggest and best-known brands desired to increase their visibility and decided to change the name of their sportswear company from its original name, Blue Ribbon Sports. The name they would select in 1980 would become a fixture in the sporting world. What was the name that the founders selected? “Nike”. They named their company after a goddess of Greek mythology, which is connected to the Greek word for victory, niké. To present their brand as synonymous with victory, Nike, Inc. would sign the best athletes in each sport to shoe deals so that these athletes would exclusively wear their shoes in sporting events in the presence of millions of consumers.

The writer of First John introduces us to the true victory synonymous with all born of God. Listen to the power of this statement, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” To wear this power, we don’t have to sign any contracts. We need to be born of God. We are born of God and have no restriction in overcoming the world when we believe that Jesus is Christ. This is Christ the King, whom angels guard and shepherds sing. And now, in His priestly and kingly role, we have access to a Savior who fulfills promises, provides healing, and brokers true peace. We can trust and love this King. He gives us the ability to overcome the world, not with a power that can abuse and misuse others, but with empowerment that generates humility and gives us the grace to love one another. And in loving each other, we prove that we love God and keep His commandments (1 John 5:2).

The true victory (Greek, niké) that has overcome the world cannot be found in the materials woven by manufacturers, but here it is, within our faith. We may be tempted to search for our victory in the items we have given birth to, such as our traditions, habits, accomplishments, and even our coping mechanisms, which can be constructive, destructive, healthy, or unhealthy. However, let us focus on the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

Our faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of God. Our faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Our faith is the universal language of heaven and earth as our belief in God draws us nigh to God, and God nigh unto us. With our trust in God and dependency upon His understanding, we can acknowledge Him in all our life experiences, and He will make our paths straight. Our faith was planted with the promise of the Messiah. It was watered by drops of blood dripping from Jesus in Gethsemane. And yes, it sprouted on a dead tree that held onto Life itself; the body of Jesus Christ, the gift of God.

You remember how the story ends. We can have faith that God will always come through victorious. Those who are born of Him overcome the world. Know that your pathway to victory is not in the shoes, but it’s in our God. You are synonymous with victory because He is in us, and we are in Him. Our victory is not determined by what resides on the outside, but it is secured by Him who abides on the inside. Those who are born of God possess the Spirit of God. By this, we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us His Spirit.

May this Spirit be in you throughout this New Year.

—Carl Ricketts Jr., MDiv, BCC, is director of Chaplain Services for Loma Linda University Medical Center.