I know I’m not the only one, but I like to win.  In fact, competing can bring out the best and the worst in me.  Growing up, I competed in sports.  And though I was very rarely on a winning team, we did occasionally win a game.  What a feeling!  Walking away the victor from a tightly contested soccer, basketball, or football game was such a rush!  We had a few really close victories playing football in high school, and wow, I experienced adrenaline like never before, and I would always wake up super hoarse the next day (all that yelling from the sideline really takes it out of a person).  I also remember a few crushing losses.  Maybe more than I love winning, I hate losing.  I take losses horribly, so to prevent losing, I try really really hard.

And for the longest time, that is what I have tried to do with my faith.  Try really really hard.  With all of this trying however, I still lose.  Every single time, no matter how hard I try, sin always beats me.  And, of course, my motivation varies.  I have often been motivated by a call to ministry.  This motivation says that because I am a minister, I have to be good and do all of the right things.  This motivation says that because I am a minister, if I do mess up, which I better not, that no one can know.  If anyone found out, they might knock me right off that pedestal they have placed me on.

Another motivation I have often felt is the motivation to meet expectations.  A natural born people pleaser, I have always wanted to fit the mold that people have set for me, and many times in my life that has been the mold of model Christian.  My parents expected me to behave and act right, so I did, mostly.  My church expected me to be a role model for younger kids, so I was, mostly.  And my friends expected me to be a good, quality guy, so I was, mostly.

Mostly.  Throughout every stage of my life, I have done the right thing, been a good guy, stayed on the right path, mostly.  But in a game against sin, mostly still loses.  No matter how hard I’ve tried throughout my life, there’s always been missteps, fumbles, and straight up disobediences.  But why? certainly not for lack of trying.  I have always wanted to do the right thing, but at the end of the day, I have always fallen short of the finish line, losing to sin once again.

So what do we do with that?

We will never win the game against sin until we pledge allegiance to the One who already has.  Luckily for us, we’ve already been invited to join the winners, and they’re having a party!

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4 ESV

In his death, burial, and resurrection, JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY WON!

The battle is over, for God has done what the law couldn’t do (v.3), HE HAS BEATEN SIN!

The Enemy has lost the battle, and now sin is seeking to take whoever it can with it.

So, while alone, we will always lose, all we have to do is surrender to the Kingdom of God which has already won.  So let us be active participants in the Kingdom through the Spirit! For what was wrong has been made right, where there was death there is now life; the deaf hear, the blind see, and the lame walk!

 

-MC