Life's ultimate victory comes through the Lord
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Romans 12:2 (NLT)
We've been hearing the term "winning" a lot lately and why shouldn't we? After all, everyone wants to be a winner. We want to win in sports, win in competition for new work opportunities and we therefore try to carry forth a winning approach in all things we do in life. We've been told time and time again that everyone loves a winner and most people want to be seen in that light. But what if someone says that in order to really win the ultimate competition, we have to surrender to get there? Many us would just rebel at the thought and I must admit, having been a military officer, the term surrender carries with it the most negative of connotations. But I'm talking about a different kind of battle and war, the war for our souls.
Now here's the thing about the battle for the soul. Both God and Satan want to take possession of it, yet God leaves it up to each of us to decide on our own and make our own free will decision. He loves us and it pains Him to see any of His children choose badly, yet He does just that. Contrast that with Satan who will play dirty and do anything to make us think that he is the one we want to choose. He knows that in the end he is going to end up in the darkness and he wants as many of us to keep him company there as he can convince. And since he can put on many different disguises, when he learns of our own sinful weaknesses, he will present himself in just the appropriate costume to do just that. God has none of that, He merely tells us of the glory that Eternity can bring to us and hopes that we will use the power of the Holy Spirit within us to be faithful to the end.
So, when we make our choice. Keep in mind that on the one hand, a choice to follow Satan will be a surrender to evil, darkness and suffering forever and that is a long time, indeed. But with God, it will be all a glorious eternity and light, joy and happiness that will come with our surrender to His love. It is truly a surrender that results in the ultimate win, a decision that will guarantee no regrets, no pain and suffering and a place so so wondrous that we have to arrive there to understand it. I think that is just what the hymn writer was saying in his words to the hymn "Victory in Jesus." For with Jesus, our surrender is a victory and the ultimate win is attained. Where do you want to spend your eternity?
- Romans 12:2 (NLT)
We've been hearing the term "winning" a lot lately and why shouldn't we? After all, everyone wants to be a winner. We want to win in sports, win in competition for new work opportunities and we therefore try to carry forth a winning approach in all things we do in life. We've been told time and time again that everyone loves a winner and most people want to be seen in that light. But what if someone says that in order to really win the ultimate competition, we have to surrender to get there? Many us would just rebel at the thought and I must admit, having been a military officer, the term surrender carries with it the most negative of connotations. But I'm talking about a different kind of battle and war, the war for our souls.
Now here's the thing about the battle for the soul. Both God and Satan want to take possession of it, yet God leaves it up to each of us to decide on our own and make our own free will decision. He loves us and it pains Him to see any of His children choose badly, yet He does just that. Contrast that with Satan who will play dirty and do anything to make us think that he is the one we want to choose. He knows that in the end he is going to end up in the darkness and he wants as many of us to keep him company there as he can convince. And since he can put on many different disguises, when he learns of our own sinful weaknesses, he will present himself in just the appropriate costume to do just that. God has none of that, He merely tells us of the glory that Eternity can bring to us and hopes that we will use the power of the Holy Spirit within us to be faithful to the end.
So, when we make our choice. Keep in mind that on the one hand, a choice to follow Satan will be a surrender to evil, darkness and suffering forever and that is a long time, indeed. But with God, it will be all a glorious eternity and light, joy and happiness that will come with our surrender to His love. It is truly a surrender that results in the ultimate win, a decision that will guarantee no regrets, no pain and suffering and a place so so wondrous that we have to arrive there to understand it. I think that is just what the hymn writer was saying in his words to the hymn "Victory in Jesus." For with Jesus, our surrender is a victory and the ultimate win is attained. Where do you want to spend your eternity?
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