Victory Thanks

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

At the conclusion of an important college football game, a sideline reporter sticks the microphone in the face of the winning quarterback just after the final whistle. Not infrequently, the answer to the first question about his performance or the outcome of the tussle, goes something like this: “First of all, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for helping me! We couldn’t have won without his support!” And then the conversation returns to the question at hand and the mighty victory just witnessed and praise is shared all around for a great game plan, awesome coaches, unbelievable offensive line, and of course, a worthy opponent.

The star of the game is thankful to God for the victory! Nothing wrong with giving God thanks on the public stage (though some would probably wish they wouldn’t “wear their religion on their sleeve” quite so much, as the old saying goes). Debates will go back and forth and range from “we are glad to know there is a Christian at quarterback!” to “we aren’t interested in your religion, son, but only in how you can throw a football!” Further, the quarterback’s statement opens things up theologically: did they win because God helped them (and didn’t help the other team)? Did they pray harder than the other helmeted warriors? Were they more “Christian”, and God answered the prayers of the righteous, and that’s why they got the win? Some will even weigh in with, “I think God has better things to do than worry about who wins a football game!” We could easily tie ourselves in theological knots trying to navigate this discussion. (By the way, I don’t have the answers to those questions, in case you are wondering.)

I will say personally that thanks to God for an athletic victory is okay, and is obviously what is bursting from the heart of the triumphant athlete. But as I said above, not everyone will agree with that approach, and that’s okay with me. I will say though that there is something on which we can agree, and it’s about what we share as believers in Jesus. It is something that is much more lasting to give thanks for. It’s not thanks for a fleeting win on the gridiron (by next season, will most people who were there even remember what happened? Test yourself if you are a football fan: who played in last year’s Super Bowl? Who won? You might have done okay on that quiz. Now try again with the Super Bowl two years ago, same questions? I predict only the diehard fans among us will ace that quiz.)

The text for today’s meditation is about giving thanks for the victory secured for us by our Lord, who is also our Savior, Jesus the Messiah. In order to fulfill his role as our Savior, he went through what seems to be unimaginable suffering in a desperately hard-fought win. His suffering was for the purpose of securing our victory. What kind of victory? Paul referred to it as victory over sin and death. Those are some fairly formidable opponents.

At times, sin seems so big and prevalent and dark, we might wonder if there is any hope of ever getting the upper hand over it. There is. Jesus has ensured that there is. Sin does not have the final word, the ultimate power. It’s not the immovable force. Sin separates us from God often in this world, but that act of separation is not forever. It’s coming to an end.

Paul also mentioned death as something that is going down in defeat. Death seems so final. At times so cruel. Or unpredictable. Or unexplainable. (I write this piece after just officiating the memorial service of a young lady close to our family who died tragically and unexpectedly. Words fail us as we try to express ourselves over this loss, or over what her husband, parents, and friends and family are experiencing. Death has a way of doing that to us.)

The amazing contrast is that we serve a Savior who experienced death. It might be easy to think Jesus is detached, and uninvolved, disinterested, and way out there, somewhere. Or that he’s even cruel! “How could he possibly allow this?!”

Then I remember: He didn’t just die, but died as a sacrifice so that we wouldn’t die eternally.  That’s the key point to remember, that we will not die eternally. Physical death is surely the lot of all of us. The Scripture says “it’s appointed to all of us to die one time.” Though I don’t know the day of my eventual death, I am confident that I will not live to see the year 2100! I’ll be long gone by then. But only gone from this earth. My confidence from Scripture is that I will be with the Trinity God for ever. Jesus’ words recorded in John 11:25 say, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” He could say that because he knew that he was on the way to the place of sacrifice, and at that place he would give his life for ours. And there, victory would be achieved. Victory over the foes of sin and death.

That’s why Paul says so confidently in this text, “Thank God!” The victory is secured, and there will be no “last-second loss”, “one that got away”, “upset loss out of nowhere—didn’t see that coming!” None of that. Jesus the Victor has provided full victory for his people. Game over.

If a microphone is placed in my personal space for a comment on eternity, and struggles with sin and death, and how I think all of this is going to come out, I will gladly speak! “First of all, I want to thank God for the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”

“Father, thank you for the victory that is  over the power of sin and death through the work of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We couldn’t secure it ourselves; we didn’t have the strength, or smarts, or righteousness, or anything else. It’s only possible through you. And for this we thank you today.”