I've been thinking a lot about victory.
I heard an announcer say "And the team went on to victory, but it was short lived due to a loss on...".
Sports. They're a huge part of my life, I'm a coach, ironically I hardly every watch them on tv. In fact, I'd much rather sit down and watch the hallmark channel, a chickflick, perhaps life time, anything with julia roberts or dolly parton, than watch a sports game. All professional sports get on my nerves and it has to be the right team to get me to sit through an entire college game, but I digress.
In sports, victory is often time indeed short lived. The sweet aroma and emotional high of winning can as easily be followed by the crushing depression of a loss. Perhaps I'm over exaggerating for the majority of the population and most likely for most of the readers of this blog, BUT when you are directly influenced and connected with the game the results have a greater effect on you.
For instance, if you go to the school of the team that's playing, you're more involved than someone who doesn't, if you know someone personally on the team, you're more involved than someone who doesn't, if you're a parent of a player, you're more involved than someone who isn't, if you're the coach, you're more involved than someone who isn't, if you're a player, you're more involved than someone who isn't. Do you see how involvement causes more emotion than not being involved?
As a coach you win some, you lose some, but every game goes to heart. There's not a single loss that I didn't go home and spend time thinking about, praying about, what could I/we/them/us done differently. I was directly tied into the match. Wether it was a win or a loss it invoked emotion.
As a Christian I stand on a battlefield. I see two teams and the battle has never stopped, I won't lie, often times I can't tell who is really winning. I'll look one moment and it'll seem as though we're bruised, beaten, bloody, and lying down with no hope of recovery, then i'll turn and it'll seem as though we're 5,000 strong against 2.
Because we are directly involved in this match, it often times produces high emotion. Of course when things are going rough we get frustrated, of course when things are going smooth we're happy. You're directly involved.
This morning I got a revelation in my heart. It's one we've all been taught most likely since day one of our journey with Christ. The revelation is I win.
The coach would not sweat and throw their clipboard if they knew what the final score would be, yet here I am. Often times weary, anxious, exhausted from fighting, wondering if we'll make it out okay, when all along I've known who wins. Our perception of the game must change.
I read a quote yesterday. Truth is universal, but perception of truth is not.
If we're watching the game specifically at the 3rd quarter at 4 minutes and 37 seconds our emotions will be directly tied to whoever is winning or losing at 4 minutes and 37 seconds. However, if it's a recording and we already heard who wins, why would we care who seems to be winning at 4 minutes and 37 seconds? You know the final outcome!!!
The emotions of a winner aren't of despair and let's be honest though the athletes might have been haunched over for breath in the final seconds of the game, when the buzzer goes off they're running around jumping and yelling like a new found energy has found their way into their system. Winning will invoke joyful emotion and cause a weary person to act as though they have new life.
Well, I win and what emotion is that causing for me?
I can be down in points, but I know when the buzzer goes off who will win. We can't grow weary, we can't hold back, we can't relax, the truth is though I know who wins in this battle for me, there's many others who are on the losing side and they need us to come share with them what we know.
Victory in the life of a Christian is not short lived and will never be short lived. A team may win one and turn around and lose another, but I'm in a match where I WILL WIN. It may be hard and I may feel down, but circumstances aren't always what they seem. Faith is believing in what's not seen, faith is knowing the truth given to us in the Word of God despite what things may look like, faith is knowing that even though I'm sore from the battle, Christ did give us the victory.
Galatains 6:9- Don't grow weary in doing good for in due time you will reap a harvest if you endure to the end.
1 Peter 5:7- Cast your anxieties upon Him for He cares for you.
Proverbs 24:10- If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small.
Hebrews 4:15- For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Just a few scriptures I've been clinging to lately.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
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