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Our Victory
February 9, 2013

Super Bowl XLVII was held earlier this week, and championship football games are exciting to watch because one team will celebrate a victory. During the regular season, a game can end in a tie if the score remains tied after an entire overtime period has been played; during the playoffs one of the teams will win because the game cannot end it a tie. Life is like this. Children can be quick to point out that certain circumstances are not fair. In their mind life is not all tied up. In the school they attend, teachers work very hard to give all children equal access to learning. In schools that require the use of uniforms, all students are similarly dressed. When it comes to food in the cafeteria, children receive the same food. They are taught not to bully and to respect those who are different. Some children and some adults have difficulty reconciling the concept of fairness and victory in competitions. Some adults advocate for the position that sporting events should be held for enjoyment without competition tied to victory and loss because in their mind all participants have already won. As adults we see the differences that life throws to those around us. Sometimes it seems like the hardest working person gets paid the least while the person performing the lowest earns the most. Two coworkers doing the same job can be paid different amounts due to reasons formally established by the organization. A walk to the parking lot shows a variety of cars of different make, model and age. Not everybody drives the most expensive new car in the parking lot. Sometimes those making a good deal of money drive very old cars. Some have their finances in order while others have their finances in disorder. There will be those with relatively good health, and those who struggle with frequent health problems. Favor smiles on some and it only seems like good fortune comes their way, while others live a life of tragedy. Adults know that life is not fair and we want children to enjoy the carefree existence of childhood because we know that everyone has their share of good and bad times and that it will not be fair. Life can be a struggle, and in the end what we struggle for is victory over death. The struggles we face will not be the same and there might be some who might cry that it is not fair, but we all have our struggles. What does the Bible say about our victory over death. You might be surprised to learn that the Bible compares this to a sporting event.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

When writing to the Corinthians, Paul used the example of a race to show what Christians need to do to obtain victory over death. While many kind of races may have been though of by Paul as he was writing this, he most likely was thinking of a longer race, one that would take endurance to complete, like a marathon. In a marathon, a race taking more than 26 miles, all who endure to the end win because they overcome the challenges of the race. All are held in admiration, and only one wins the top prize. So in our race to obtain victory over death, we have to race like we want to win and win more than anyone else. In his letters to the churches, a recurring theme of Jesus is to endure to the end, even though each church had a different set of circumstances to face. Even the race to have victory over death may not seem fair to some, and we can review the letters to Sardis and Philadelphia to see the circumstances faced by each and the common admonition to overcome, because to endure to the end, we must overcome.

Revelation 3:1-13
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Perhaps the circumstances in life are different, but God gives us the same common spiritual tools to achieve victory. It becomes our responsibility to maximize use of these spiritual tools to achieve victory, and the greatest tool we have to overcome and endure to the end is through the use of faith. It is by using faith that we are able to overcome and endure to the end.

1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,

Our victory over death begins with our victory over the world, and the spiritual tool we have to achieve this is faith. Much bigger than any sporting championship will be our victory over the world and death, and if we have faith we will use it to celebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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