ALREADY VICTORIOUS
ALREADY VICTORIOUS
A little while ago, I was catching up with a friend. We were having discussions about the way things were going on globally and we both agreed that we were not going to complain, but rather be more thankful and filled with gratitude for the goodness and mercy of God.
Somewhere along the line she said to me: “Yinka, do you know our very best gifts do not always come wrapped up in cute dainty packages?” And that just got me thinking. Let us think about the example of when we first set eyes on our babies, there were no ribbons and bows tied around them. We had to labour to get them out and they came out crying more often than not! But within a few minutes they looked so angelic and our hearts were almost bursting with love as we held them close to our chests for the very first time.
I have eventually come to the conclusion that the road to victory is not a smooth one at all. Perhaps on the way to receive our crowns, a red carpet may be laid out for us to walk on up to the podium, but the journey to get that crown of victory will be fraught with many challenges. Please, let me tell you about the best gift ever and how it came.
Our LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ is God’s best gift to mankind. Without Jesus, ALL is lost. There will be no hope for us whatsoever. Yet see how Jesus came. He is the King of kings but He was born in a lowly manger. What He came to do on earth was to reconcile us sinners to God. He had to take our place as sinners because He had no sin. He was literally born to die. And He shed His blood (to cleanse us from our sins) and died a really gruesome death on the cross. Just before that He was tortured at the whipping post where each stripe laid on Him was for our healing. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 KJV That does not describe or resemble anything neatly packaged. Yet as a result of that gift, that was not wrapped up in any kind of neat or dainty package like we know, we are here today as joint heirs with Jesus because of all He went through and knowing that no matter what may come our way, our tomorrow will be alright because of His two-fold sacrifice.
Jesus was obedient to God, the Father and He went all the way through the shameful, humiliating experience of the cross. Let us always remember that Jesus is God, the Son. He is God and it does not get more divine than that. Yet in spite of His divinity, Jesus humbled himself and came to earth as man. “…he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names.” Philippians 2: 8-9 NLT
As born again Christians, we are to live life victoriously because Jesus has given us victory over sin, death and the grave. That is not to say that we will never again face challenges here. We must never allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by them. When we are overwhelmed, the Word of God tells us this. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalms 61: 2-3 KJV God will hear our cry wherever we call from. The next scripture reference makes me feel that David, the writer, is encouraging himself in the LORD, by calling to mind all that the LORD represents to him. In his despair he saw fit to remind himself of all the things that God had done for him. “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalms 18: 2 KJV
Dear friends, what does God represent to you? Like David, we have all been through so much already but I am certain that if we just take a moment and recall what God has done for us, we will fill pages of our journals. This is not the time to shrink back in fear or frustration. Even this current trajectory will still work for our good. We must know this truth and trust God at His every word.
No! We have not derailed. We are on course. Do not allow the devil to feed us thoughts that will depress us. These are minor trials that are inevitable on the way to wear our crowns of victory that Jesus already won. Please let us not give up now!
WE WILL WEAR OUR CROWNS!
JESUS HAS GIVEN US THE VICTORY!
WE ARE ALREADY VICTORIOUS!
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©