The 2012 Summer Olympics have come and gone. We have all witnessed some truly heroic, or Herculean performances. We have seen, as ABC’s Wide World of Sports says, “The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” We truly do need to be honest with ourselves. in our earthly, temporal, existence, both are incredibly short lived, especially the thrill of victory!
Our favorite athlete, or team, can be champions one day, and the next day face defeat. It’s not uncommon for the once victorious to then receive a hail of boos and derision. This is only natural. We so often fail to realize that one cannot always be the “champ.” As a matter of fact, being the champ is really a rare thing. Except…
for the incredible “Good News!”
We can have complete victory. This victory is not only complete, but is eternal, meaning that it will never be taken away, or wrestled from you. This victory is the one that was won over sin and death by Jesus Christ! He accomplished this by His own death openly, in full view. He had nothing to hide. Then he triumphed over the fact. The term triumphed denotes a victory parade. In many cases the defeated foes’ dead bodies were displayed to show the triumph. Christ defeated sin and death, then dragged them around to show their defeat!
Even though the media of the day did not cover things as now, nevertheless Jesus Christ triumphed over sin and death. He took everything that was against us, and nailed it to His Cross…
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col 2:13-15)
This was a true Olympic moment which still has its effects today! By believing (putting your trust in) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and what He did at Calvary, one can have the true Gold Medal of life, which can never fade away.
We can now
live a meaningful life, and run the race of life BECAUSE we have the victory! Following the Lord through obedience to His Word is the best “life training” we can have. For the Believer it is our purpose in life.
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. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
The Olympic Games are over for now. There will be another Olympiad soon, with a whole new set of winners and losers. If you are a Believer you have this victory already! If not, it is God’s desire for you to be victorious!
