RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

One doesn’t have to be a Christian for many years before he begins to wonder, Is there really such a thing as victorious Christian living? Do I have only the promise of God’s forgiveness and eternal salvation — or can I actually experience victory over old habits and ways? If we were completely honest, we would discover multitudes of Christians asking those questions — for good reasons.
We only have to look around us to find many Christians living far below the victory described in the New Testament. I have often met people with such immense problems, I’ve thought there’s no workable solution. When I look around the Christian community, even among many Christian leaders, I often find defeat, discouragement, and despair. Defeat has become such a norm in the Christian community, many have given up on the biblical principles of victory and turned to psychological and humanistic principles. An entire industry of counseling has grown up in recent years because of so much defeat in the Christian community. So the natural tendency is to question if victory actually exists.
Far worse than seeing the defeat of so many Christians around us is to see our own failures. Many Christians find themselves held captive to lust, bitterness, anger, anxiety, and a host of other attitudes they thought they’d no longer have to face once they became a Christian. Most of us don’t need to be told we’re defeated. We face that reality every day. Recently one Christian lady very nonchalantly told me she had been involved sexually with another woman’s husband. The manner in which she confessed her sin conveyed no hope of victory over the relationship. Years ago, I confronted a pastor about an immoral relationship. He told me, “I’ve prayed and asked God to deliver me from these feelings I have for this woman. But He hasn’t done it. Therefore I’ve accepted the relationship as what He wants for me.” Too many Christians have accepted defeat as their destiny because they can’t seem to get a grip on the source and way of victory.
I’ve often heard Christians quote the Scriptures to excuse their lack of victory. Most notably, King David is cited for his failure. Such reasoning states that “he was, after all, a man after God’s own heart. Yet he succumbed to lust, adultery, and murder. If he was a man of God and a leader in the kingdom of God, why should we expect to do any better?” The Bible is certainly filled with examples of godly men who wound up defeated. The apostle Paul said, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19).
Peter denied Jesus, and Thomas doubted him. Abraham was a coward when a king wanted his wife. Moses fled into the Midianite desert in fear of the pharaoh. A quick tour of the Bible could easily make one think that victory for the believer just doesn’t exist.
But there’s one other reason many followers of Christ have stayed in the sewer of defeat — although they know the place they’re living stinks and they know the Bible describes a different kind of life. Many want out of the slums of sin, but they have accepted this as their spiritual destiny. What many people don’t understand is that an illegitimate, evil landlord has convinced them they must dwell in the slums. They’ve believed the lies of Satan. He’s been telling the same old story since the fall of man. He’s tried to convince every generation of believers they were destined to live in the slums of sin and that spiritual sewerage is the norm for the Christian life.
Victorious Christian living is certainly impossible for us in our own strength. Left to ourselves, we will remain defeated. But there’s good news for the true follower of Christ. Jesus said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). Our God specializes in the impossible. He’s made full provision for our victory. Victorious Christian living isn’t just a dream or unattainable wish. It’s a present reality. It’s not something that’s merely achievable. It’s already been achieved by Christ.
When He died on the cross, Jesus defeated every one of our enemies. Foremost, He defeated Satan. The devil is called the accuser of the brethren. He constantly tells us there’s no hope. He tries to convince us defeat is our destiny. But he’s a liar. The Scripture clearly tells us, “But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). The Bible says that when He died on the cross, Jesus made a public display of the defeat of Satan (Colossians 2:15). We don’t have to believe the devil’s lies. The victory over the spiritual forces in heavenly places has already been achieved. That’s a fact.
Perhaps the most difficult struggle we face is within our own selves. That’s primarily what the apostle Paul wrestled with in Romans 7. He wanted victory, but confessed that in his own self (flesh) dwelt no good thing (v. 18). He even asked, “Who will set me free from this body of death?” ( v. 24 nasb). He then answered his own question, firmly stating, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” ( v. 25 nasb). Yes, Paul had tasted defeat. But he also knew the source of victory was found in Christ.
That’s perhaps the greatest truth I’ve learned since becoming a Christian. The victorious Christian life is not something I can attain. It’s what Christ has obtained for me. It’s not what I can do for Him, but what He’s already done for me. It’s not “I,” but it’s “Christ in me” that’s the great hope of victory. My responsibility is to trust Him. Just as I trusted Jesus to save and forgive me, I can also trust Him to give me victory over every evil desire with which I am tempted. Christ is my victory. Yes, victorious Christian living is possible. It’s attainable because Jesus has won the victory. We simply need to trust Him.