“But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because
of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know
Christ. It's like a fragrance that fills the air.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 God’s
Word version
I
scored a touchdown once. I really
did. This may not be a big deal for you,
but it was for me. I played football in
junior high, and two years in high school.
I was a small kid during those years, and football really was a beating
for me. After four years of physical
punishment, I decided I liked things much better in the marching band.
Then
came college. No, I wasn’t one of those
walk-on college football success stories.
This was intermural football. I
played with my college fraternity. Mark,
our quarterback was a former high school standout, and so was our running back,
Ron. Honestly, we won most of our games
with various combinations of Mark handing off to Ron, or Mark throwing to
Ron. The rest of us on the field were
essentially distractions. We went
through the motions of blocking, or going long until Mark had enough time to
find Ron and hand off or throw to him. Ron
was very fast and once he got the ball, he usually scored. So we usually won.
On
our final game of this particular season, we are in the championship match and
our opponent has been doing a good job of covering Ron in just about everything
he attempted. Back in the huddle, we are
gathered to see what play Mark will call next.
This time, however, he looks at me.
“Patton? You go long. When you get into the end zone, turn
around. I’m going to hit you in the
numbers. Catch it. Okay?”
What??
Me??? No. Mark was supposed to throw or hand off to
Ron. It was our offense. Ron left, Ron right, Ron up the middle, Ron
long. Pick one.
My
heart quickened in my chest. I tried not
to catch the eyes of the guy who was covering me. (translation – the guy who
was across the line from me, who was looking to see if Ron would come his
way)
The
center snapped the ball to Mark and I bolted toward the end zone…as I had done
before. My defender didn’t bother to
cover me as he was waiting for Ron to come his way. There I was, running alone toward the end
zone. Arriving, I quickly turned around
just in time to hear a frat brother shout “Catch it Kerry!” and the ball hit me
in the middle of my chest. In a miracle
like unto the parting of the Red Sea, my hands found the ball and I held on to
it. I had scored!!
The
adrenalin rush was marvelous! I had
scored…a touchdown!!! I remember my
first thought… ‘So that is what it feels
like!’ My second thought: ‘Praise the Lord! I didn’t drop it!!’ I didn’t drop it. You know, when I remember that event, my
heart still starts up again. It was such a cool moment. That taste of victory. That sensation of success. Mercy.
It was sweet. However, I know of
victory that is much…much sweeter.
I Heard An Old, Old, Story…
Do
you ever spend much time thinking about our victory in Jesus? Ever meditate about how amazing and wonderful
it is to be washed by the Blood of The Lamb of God?
1 Corinthians 15:57
reads: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” Revelation1:5-6 greets us with: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made
us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.”
Have
you thought much about your victory lately?
Have you considered ‘the joy of your salvation?’ Follower of Jesus, lift up your eyes! Your sins have been forgiven. Your guilt has been washed away. The debt you could not repay; the enmity
between you and the just God has been erased.
Settled. It’s finished, and you
are restored in fellowship with God.
After
King David had fallen in sin, and his sin had been discovered, he cried out to
God: “…restore unto me
the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:12) Have you forgotten the taste of victory? Has it been a long time since you’ve savored
the renewal of the fire in your heart?
It’s time to remember. It’s time
to consider that greatest of all victories.
For you are truly victorious in Christ…and you will never be the
same. That’s amazing.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Stir up
the fire within me. Remind me again of
the victory I have in you. Fill me to
overflowing with your Holy Spirit and set my heart on fire with zeal for your
Word and will. In your name I pray,
Amen.
