Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Paul proclaimed, “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Believers are promised victory in Christ, but what does “victory” look like? Victory does not always appear the way we think it will. Sometimes victory is like Daniel coming out of the lions’ den, alive and unharmed. Sometimes victory is like Paul asking the Lord to remove the thorn from his flesh and being told, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Victory is the power of Christ being revealed through our weakness.
Sometimes victory looks like martyrs, past and present, laying down their lives for the One who died for them. They gain the approval of God through Christ, but it is demonstrated through their faith.
Sometimes victory is like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, looking ahead to bearing our sins and the wrath of the Father with a troubled heart, yet saying, “Not My will but Thine be done.” Victory is submitting to the will of the Father. Sometimes victory looks like Jesus hanging on the cross with His head bowed in death, having completed the work He came to do, conquering sin, death, and the grave through the cross and His resurrection.
Our victory is knowing that Christ has overcome the world. Our victory is in confessing, “Not my will but Thine be done.” And we will certainly rejoice in victory when on that final day Christ looks us in the eye and says, “Well done, you good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Christ has won the victory. As those He has redeemed, let us walk in that victory for His glory. Amen.
Pastor Haney
