Grace for the Heart Newsletter

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. "   These words, spoken by President George Bush on May 1, 2003, marked the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq.   During the past five years, many have mocked the speech given aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.  Some have suggested that it was an error.  Some say it was political propaganda.  Some say it was a lie.

 

The statement was neither an error nor was it false.  "Major combat operations" did end back then and what we see today are simply the continuing battles and skirmishes with insurgents that follow almost any war.  Yet, it is difficult to feel that the war has ended when the battles continue.

 

Aside from the political ramifications of these statements, the idea seems easily and directly related to victory in the Christian life.  Many Christians long for victory in their lives.  They struggle against this or that sin, look for hope and peace, and wait restlessly for the coming of the Lord and the promised victory.  But is the fact of continued struggle evidence of lack of victory?

 

Here are a few things we know:

 

       Jesus Christ is the Victor – John 16:33
       God gives us the victory – 1 Corinthians 15:57
       By faith we receive the victory – 1 John 5:4
       The battles continue – Ephesians 6:10-13
In other words, the war is over and the victory is already ours – no matter what we see or feel around us.  The continuing battles can be difficult, even seriously dangerous, but the war is still over and we are the victors.  We will have enemies while we live in this world, but they have already been defeated.  In some ways those enemies seem to fight even harder against us because they are either desperate or no longer have anything to lose. 

 

Late in the game, after the starters have guaranteed the victory, the second team is sent in and allowed to play.  They play seriously.  Some may get hurt.  Others may try and fail.  But they are still on the winning team.  So why are they trying so hard?  If they know that they are already winners, why try?  Obviously, second-string players play to be noticed by the coach, but could they also play hard because they are winners?  Because they know they are on the winning team, their confidence and willingness to risk are higher.  They play harder because they know they cannot fail.

 

When we struggle against sin in our daily lives, we struggle as winners.  The victory is already ours.  The fact of continuing struggle does not negate the fact of accomplished victory.  Even if we succumb to the battle, sin still has no authority and no power over us.  

 

There is a wonderful story in John 13 where Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.  Peter doesn't think this is quite right and refuses to allow Jesus to wash his feet.  At that point, Jesus teaches the disciples something that we must never forget.  He begins by telling Peter that only those who are washed by Him will have any part of Christ.  From that we learn again the importance of the blood of Christ.  There is no salvation, no reconciliation with God, no relationship with God, except through the washing of the blood of Christ.

 

Then Peter wants to be completely washed by Jesus.  He wants to share in this amazing relationship.  But Jesus says that those who have been washed do not need to be washed again.  They are still clean from the first washing and nothing will change that.  Only their feet need to be washed occasionally.  There just doesn't seem to be any doubt that Jesus is telling Peter – and us – that the cleansing we receive at the point of our salvation is sufficient.  We belong to Jesus, now and forever, and nothing that happens in this life will change that.  However, the contact with this world will still result in "dirty feet."  I take that to mean that the battles, skirmishes, will continue. 

 

Now, this is important.  In those times when we are attacked by the world and we feel defiled, compromised, or unclean because of something we have done or something that has been done to us, Jesus is still the One who washes our feet.  We still cannot cleanse ourselves.   No amount of Bible memorization, good works, or self-deprivation will accomplish the cleansing we need.  So many teachers insinuate that Jesus did the "big one", washing away the sins of our past, but now we must take care of the "little ones" by somehow erasing the effects of the daily sins that result from our continuing struggle.  This error is the cause of much discouragement among the people of God.  Instead, we need the work of Jesus after salvation just as much as we did before salvation.

 

So let me summarize:  The battle has already been won.  If you belong to Jesus, you are already victorious over sin.  Sin has no authority over you, no real power in your life, and is never counted on your eternal "tally sheet."  And, as you walk through this life, facing and occasionally stumbling before the enemies, Jesus is right there with you to pick you up, wipe you off, and help you begin your walk again.  Eternal victory is yours because of what He has done.  Daily victory is yours because you walk with Him.

 

- David Orrison