Victory

Corrie Ten Boom writes: "Jesus is Victor. Calvary is the place of victory. Obedience is the pathway to victory.  Bible study and prayer the preparation. Courage, faith, the spirit of victory...every temptation is a chance for victory...a chance to let the tempter know anew that he is defeated. "

I don't know about you, but that makes me smile. Any opportunity to know that satan is feeling the sting of defeat from obedience in my life makes me very pleased. Think of your favorite sports team, super hero, or reality show contestant and their nemesis. How does it feel to see them victorious? Multiply that by infinity for eternity. That's how I feel knowing that Jesus' victory in my life through my simple obedience makes satan squirm. Let me underscore something here...it is my OBEDIENCE to Jesus that gives me victory. It isn't my ideas, good deeds or best efforts. The greatest victory came the day I accepted Jesus' work on the cross as payment for my sins and thus received eternal life (salvation)...an act done in humility and recognition of personal defeat. Also note, that my obedience is made complete after studying the Word (Jesus is the Word) and praying for wisdom and guidance from Him and then obeying that direction. So when I'm obeying, and temptation comes near, there is a chance for victory if I stand firm on what Jesus has already shown me. And the more I know Him, the easier it gets to trust fully what He has shown me and to resist the temptation of taking satan on in my own strength. 

I was also reminded tonight in "A Days Journey" by Jon Courson, how Jesus handled temptation while He lived as a man. Jesus shows me how to do this practically through the account of His temptation in the wilderness. He was in the desert fasting and praying for 40 days when satan came to tempt him. What did Jesus do...well, He had been fasting and praying and receiving guidance from God and when tempted, He had an answer for each temptation...which came from the Word of God. He showed me how to stand firm in the truth of God's Word. 

So there will be victory in my life through my obedience. But there will be times of defeat because of my failure to walk in the direction the Lord points or because I tried to take it on in and of my own strength. But regardless of the daily battles, what remains is the victory on Calvary that is permanently credited to my account. Jesus gave His perfect, sinless life in exchange for mine. I am justified by His blood...just as if I never sinned. His life is imputed over my life...meaning, what God sees through the blood of His son that covers me is not my sin and failure, but the victory of His Son Jesus. I'm so glad I'm not still trying to be "good" or "good enough" or hoping that in the end things will pan out for me. Or living a life fearful and uncertain of what happens when I die. I've been given that blessed assurance that when this body ceases here on Earth, I will have new, eternal life in Heaven. And all because I have victory in Christ. And that makes satan squirm! Hallelujah!