THE COST OF VICTORY

“Most Christians would like to have more power in their lives and to see more victory. At the Olympics, we all enjoy seeing the power of the weight lifters, the pole vaulters, the gymnasts and the runners.

It takes Power to have Victory!

It is exhilarating when we see someone come through a challenge as a real victor. Our hearts thrill with such an individual as he throws up his arms in triumph.

Unfortunately, most of us do not appreciate the price that Olympic champions have to pay for their victories. The victory is sweet, but there is indeed a cost. There are many long, hard, daily hours of practice, which means sacrificing in studies and social life. There is actual physical pain at times, as weight lifters and long-distance runners push their bodies beyond previous limitations. And yet, they each are willing to pay that price in order to have sweet taste of victory.

Most Christians seem to be waiting for “something” to happen to give them instantaneous power and victory. We are accustomed to “instant” cereals, “instant” dinners and a pushbutton life, that somehow we have almost deluded ourselves into a sense that our power and victory should come simply by “adding water and stirring.”

…Unfortunately, in order to have real power and victory, we must first exercise an act of the will and then there is a subsequent price to pay. It is the same for an Olympic athlete who must decide that he is willing to pay the price of daily workouts and other sacrifices in order to become a champion. But I have good news for you….Jesus Christ Himself said that if you believe in Him, you will do the works that He did:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father…” – John 14:12

He did not say that if you were a pastor, an evangelist, a prophet or an apostle you would do the same works that He did. He said that if you believed in Him, you would do the same works that He did. Jesus has already decided that you can have that power, and He is offering it to every true believer. He wants every Christian to have it. That power and the victory that follows is available to you, and it is available to you now! You do not have to wait for anything. Go for it! You can have a gold medal!”