But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV
In professional sports, there are no moral victories. The ultimate goal is to win the championship. Even if a team makes it to the finals, it is considered a failure if they do not win the championship. But our spiritual journey is not about wins and losses. Believers are already winners through Christ Jesus because the Lord conquered the grave and gave us eternal life.
A disciple of Jesus Christ is a winner notwithstanding their circumstances in life. From the moment a person gives their life to Jesus Christ, they’ve won the greatest prize ever—eternal life. Our setbacks in life do not make us losers. Nor do our financial struggles and the snares that entangle us make us losers. We are winners because Jesus is a winner.
One of the greatest challenges for believers is to live like spiritual winners. We struggle with the idea that our victory is not measured by material successes or personal gains. Thus, many believers lack the confidence and the boldness to defeat spiritual powers and principalities.
Just because a believer is diagnosed with a terminal illness does not mean they’ve lost. In Philippians 1:21, Paul reminds us that death is the gain of those who are in Christ Jesus. Losing a job, a business, or a career, does not make a believer a loser. Not getting promoted in one’s job or a career does not make that believer a loser.
Believers only lose when they stop trusting God and give up on their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Imagine if every believer was to wake up every morning with the confidence that they already won! The devil relies on our fearfulness. He does not want us to know that we already won. His foremost strategy is to make us doubt ourselves and the power of God working in us so we will not live with power.
The fruitfulness of our spiritual walk is not defined by the sum of our spiritual struggles. We may get hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
Upon returning from a missionary trip from Niger, Africa, I was telling a colleague about the poverty and destitution of so many of the brothers and sisters in that country. I told him that I felt guilty for the lifestyle of opulence God has allowed many believers in America to live. He told me not to feel sorry for the Nigerian brothers and sisters because they have a spiritual inheritance that is far more precious than any earthly wealth. My colleague reminded me that many of the poorest people in the world will have prominent positions in heaven. He exhorted me to pray for these brothers and sisters so they can finish their race and keep their faith. But not to feel sorry for them.
Perhaps you are feeling sorry for yourself or someone you know because of the struggles you or they face. Please remember, your earthly circumstances do not define your spiritual identity. You are a winner in Christ Jesus. Your victory was purchased with the blood of Jesus. Therefore, I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to rob us of our victory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Questions for Personal Reflection
Why should you feel victorious when you go through difficulties?
What should you do when the devil tries to make you feel like a loser?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I thank you for the victory I have in Christ Jesus. Please help me not to forget that I am more than a conqueror when my weaknesses are greater than my strength. Remind me to live with spiritual boldness because of the victory I have in you.