As we raised our children through baseball, football, volleyball, cheerleading, and ballet, we
tried to teach them that there is more involved than simply winning. Development of good
sportsmanship, teamwork, camaraderie, friendship are some of the larger lessons gained in
childhood sports. It’s not always about which team comes out on top or even which team makes it
to the championship. Winning isn’t everything.
But as we grow, and mature, we learned that there are more important principles at play.
There are eternal stakes involved. We eventually discover that we are on this earth for a very
limited and little time, and that there is something much more important than our earthly
pilgrimage. There is an eternal perspective which puts things into a more serious focus.
Learning to live in view of eternity involves recognizing deeper, more spiritual principles
about the way things really are. It means living each day for Jesus Christ, because ultimately those
on the side of Christ are going to prevail eternally. Who wants to be a success in this short life, but
an utter failure hereafter? Isn’t the victory over sin and death all that really matters in the final
analysis?
There are many things we may attempt in life, but if we miss heaven, we miss everything.
We hear the big plans that young people make, and we smile and wish them well. Who knows?
They may actually succeed in these pie-in-the-sky endeavors. But one thing is certain: Through all
of the changes, vicissitudes and adjustments in life, there is one goal of which we dare not fall
short. That is our eternal home with the Lord and the redeemed of all ages.
In order to gain the ultimate victory over sin and death, we are going to have to make sure
in this life that we are on the side of the Victor, Jesus Christ. “Every one therefore who shall
confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew
10:32). Winning with Jesus Christ is everything!
This approach may sound radical, especially to our worldly friends. They do not understand
why our every decision, every future plan, every important activity, is centered around Jesus
Christ. It’s because the Christian life is different from the worldly life. Something much larger is
going on here. Something our worldly friends simply cannot understand.
Winning is everything. But we’re not talking about a volleyball game, or even an NFL Super
Bowl. These things may seem important at the time, but in a few years they fade away, and we
should realize that they were not that important after all. Certainly, they were not worth
compromising our service and responsibilities to Jesus Christ and his church. Why? Because we
are not going to get to heaven on the backs of our favorite NFL team. On the day of judgment, we
are not going to be asked about the standings or win/loss record of any sports team. These matters
will have faded away into insignificance forever.
But then will loom up with vast importance this question: Am I ready to be standing here
before my God? Have I been a faithful servant on the side of my Savior, Jesus Christ? Have I
conducted my life so that I may partake of His victory? “For whatsoever is begotten of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. And
who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John
5:4-5).
Becoming a world-champion golfer, or ice skater, or anything else, must be a tremendous
and exhilarating feeling. But how tragic to succeed resoundingly at some earthly endeavor, only
to fail eternally in what matters most of all. What an anguishing thought to fail where winning
really does matter!
Today we sing Victory in Jesus, and we will consider what this victory really means. We
will look at what the Scriptures say regarding how we can be assured of this victory. And this will
be time well spent, because, friends, this type of victory is all important. This type of winning truly
is everything!
