But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV
An old country preacher was challenged by a highly educated agnostic. The skeptic asked, “Why do you Christians constantly claim assurance of victory in the battle of eternity?” The old preacher replied: “Well, Son, it says at the beginning of my Bible that God was in charge when time started up. Then I flip over to the end of my Bible and reads that God will be in charge when time runs down. So I figure that twixt the beginning and twixt the end weren't nobody else big enough to whoop ‘em.” (Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author).
Amid the uproar with the death of George Floyd, COVID-19 continues to kill people throughout the world. The news cycle is filled with accounts of racism, injustice, death, division, and destruction. There is scarcely any good news being reported, and the hope of many is fading like a flickering flame. Consequently, there is an increase in the number of people suffering from depression and other types of mental or emotional diseases.
I can understand why so many people are tempted to feel hopeless. Many cannot envision a constructive way to overcome the existential challenges they face. However, believers should find the courage to cultivate a different perspective. Despite the many challenges we all face in this sinful world, we must always remember that we are victorious.
Our victory is through our Lord Jesus Christ, who conquered death and ascended to glory with power and authority. The resurrection of Jesus signaled the defeat of religious bigotry, racism, classism, and sexism. Jesus gave a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and liberty to the captives. He went to the enemy’s kingdom and took back what the enemy stole from us.
The enemy would have us believe that we are weak and powerless. He is seducing many believers to trade their victory for defeat. He is throwing everything at us so we can give up and surrender. Nevertheless, despite his campaign of terror and his crusade of oppression and segregation, he will be defeated. The enemy is desperate and dangerous. We cannot underestimate his lust for death and destruction.
Notwithstanding, we cannot live in fear either. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). No matter how hopeless things may seem, we have to demonstrate the audacity of hope. The righteous people of this country are fighting powers and principalities that refuse to allow these United States of America to be “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” These enemies of God and agents of the Devil are using racism, segregation, classism, and sexism to weaken our resolve to live in victory with the joy of the Lord.
Whereas it may seem as if injustice and oppression are winning the cosmological battle between good and evil. Rest assured that God cannot be defeated, and his righteousness cannot be thwarted. So do not let what is reported in the news, or what politicians are advocating, make you fearful or discouraged. Almighty God is the one who determines the present and the future. He alone will have the last say in all matters.
If the meantime, thus sayeth the Lord: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?” Isaiah 10:1-3
The Lord also says that we are victorious. We will stand still watch the destruction of the wicked. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5). Therefore, be strong and courageous. Even in death, we have the victory.
Prayer- Blessed Lord, thank you for the victory we have through Christ Jesus. May those who feel defeated and discouraged by their struggled know they are victorious.
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