I might have said it before, but it’s still worth saying again: I like winning.
Winning is such a beautiful, exhilarating, and sensational experience. The thrill that goes through me when I am announced the winner is not matched by many other feelings. I like it so much that I set myself up in the middle of the week to go for the wins, and now what was a dreaded time of the week is a delight.
However, some things were not easy to win. Some were so tough to win that I gave up having a go. I gave up because, for every good day, there might be a few bad days. When I thought I had momentum, something would happen and ruin everything. And the defeats hit home a lot more than any semblance of winning. This is why being a Christian is significant to me.
Good people in the faith helped me understand how grace worked and the truth of my situation. There would always be a struggle. No human being walking the face at the moment has conquered sin. The reason for the prayer guide is that sin is present, failing is possible, and the need to repent would be a part of the journey. However, the difference in the perspective was to appreciate that it was not about my efforts but what Jesus conquered. The issue is all about what Jesus did at the Cross. The issue is the life of Christ, which is my portion as a believer because of the Holy Spirit. The issue is that because Jesus conquered, then throughout my struggles, I could still know that He won the key battles and have hope that at the culmination of all things, the greatest victory party awaits when everything currently under His feet is forever banished.
It does not excuse the defeats that I encounter daily. It gives perspective to see that winning in Christ is because of Christ, and the same victory gives hope and access to restoration. It also focuses more on what the life of God does in me than moping over the defeats.
It’s also a huge help when considering aspects of life, culture and society where it doesn’t always look like winning is evident. Seeing the state of the world sometimes can give the impression that there are more defeats than any sense of victory. Thankfully, the reality of what Jesus has done through His life, death, burial and resurrection leads to the reality of what Jesus is still doing through His Spirit through His church and those seeking His Kingdom and being about the business of righteousness.
This hope and reason for rejoicing is all because Jesus came to earth, saw the state it was in and conquered. Defeating the devil, defeating death, defeating all that opposed the will of the Father. Conquered all these to establish in its place that superb rule marked by righteousness, peace and joy.
That winning feeling is exhilarating enough to excite me to see it happening in Kingdom conversations and gospel encounters. as the opportunities arise.
That’s because I like winning, and no one does it better than the One who has conquered everything.
For His Name's Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
