Sweet Victory
By Shauna Leis
"May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious
And will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests."
Psalm 20:4-5 NIV
We have all heard the term "sweet victory" at some point in our lives, most likely associated with a game that was being played. I have always loved sports, which is probably par for the course since my dad was a high school wrestling coach. We used to love sitting on the couch together on Saturday and Sunday afternoons watching football games and rooting for our favorite teams. The best games though, were the ones with a lot of action throughout the game and then a sudden, sweet victory at the end. You know the type - where you were on the edge of your seat for the entire game and then fall back onto the couch exhausted at the end because your team has pulled it off and won the game - especially those games where your team was not expected to win in the first place.
In the New Testament, Paul talks about an even sweeter victory than that of a mere football game. He speaks of the victory over sin and death. Our lives were condemned to death because of our sinful nature after the fall. Remember that Romans says "For all have sinned." We have all sinned and are therefore worthy of whatever should be given out to us - burning in a lake of fire for all eternity. However, praise the Lord that we do not have to suffer this particular fate. Instead, we are treated as royal children and heirs to the throne of God.
Just how is this victory to be achieved one might ask? By the sacrifice of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Read Paul's words with me below:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory. 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15: 54-57
When Christ determined (yes determined) to come down from Heaven and place Himself on that cross to die for our sin, He achieved victory over all of that sin for the rest of eternity. Mind you that this sin was not His, but rather the sin of the rest of the world. The Greek word for victory is "nikao" (also "nike"), and is defined as "to subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail, the means of success." If you are anything like me, hearing this definition of victory makes me so very glad that Jesus Christ is on my side and not against me. Are you unsure of who holds your ultimate victory? Turn to Him today, and ask Jesus to guarantee your victory!
Pray with me: Precious Savior and Lord. How precious are Your words in helping us to understand how we can achieve victory over sin and death. It is only through belief and faith in You and Your death and resurrection that we can ever hope to get to heaven. We want to honor You in all that we do and say so that others can see the same victorious spirit You have placed in us. What a blessing it is to have this guarantee in our lives. Your love surpasses all understanding. We seek You each and every day, every hour, and every second. Show us Your ways, and fill us up with Your Spirit. Give us victory in You. We pray all of these things in the precious name of our Lord, Jesus Christ! Amen.