Freedom in Christ: The Victory!

COMMENTS

Victory.  That was the final word in my last posting.  I didn’t plan it that way; but apparently, the Lord did ;-).  Victory is our goal, and it’s the title God gave me for the last posting of our current topic.  Lord, we want to hear what you have to say….

NOTES

The dictionary defines “victory” as “a successful ending of a struggle or contest”.  That’s what I want:  a successful ending of my struggle against my own sinful nature and against Satan.  Fortunately, that’s what God wants for me, as well.  He provided a way for that victory in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  He speaks to me, and He longs for me to hear, obey, and walk triumphantly through this life and into Glory.

Two things interfere with my hearing God’s voice:  (1) me and (2) Satan.  Sometimes, when God speaks, my sinful nature gets in the way.  It’s as if I have my fingers in my ears and am saying “la, la, la, la, la” like a child who doesn’t want to hear his parent’s words.  Other times, Satan is the interference.  In that case, it’s more like Satan’s holding a sound barrier between me and God, making it difficult for me to hear God’s voice while, at the same time, Satan is yelling in my ears.  God is always there, always telling me how much He loves me and offering godly wisdom to help me walk in the elusive victory we’ve been talking about.  God is always speaking—I’m the one who’s not hearing.

One quick disclaimer:  Submitting to God and resisting Satan is not a guarantee of a worry-free life.  God has allowed Satan power in this world for a limited time.  Even if I am able to live a perfect life (which I’m not), wholly submitted to God and completely resisting Satan and my sinful nature, the other people who live here are making their own decisions; and those decisions affect me and my loved ones and my property, etc., etc.  And then there’s nature.  Remember, the tornado that hit us a month ago?  That tornado didn’t happen because one of my neighbors made a bad choice.  It happened because I live in a fallen world.  Bottom line:  Heaven is perfect, but this world isn’t.  That imperfection sometimes brings pain and suffering into my life, no matter how godly my life is.

So, as much as I am able with God’s help, I will submit to God and battle Satan.  God’s message to each of us is that we DON’T have to be beat up and defeated.  God has provided the path and the map for that “successful ending”. 

Finally, resisting is active.  It’s offense not defense.  I don’t have a naturally aggressive personality, so I’ve had to learn how to confidently assert the authority God has given me over the evil one.

Our God loves us completely and unconditionally.  He wants us to live lives that honor Him; and if we’re truly His, we want that, too.  Living in bondage doesn’t honor Him, but living in freedom does.  Fight the fight!  Accept the freedom He offers!  Live in Victory!