“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5
When a dear woman reached out to me and shared her aspiration to live the “victorious life,” for the first time in all the years hearing those words I stopped to think about it. Having come out from under, delivered by God’s grace alone to be most precise, the rampant false teaching that riddles our world, I was introduced to the concept of the “victorious life” in a very simple, straightforward, emphatic manner. The life of victory in Christ, I was taught, is about living a happy, healthy, prosperous, abundant, pain-free, perfect, positive, pie-in-the-sky, enjoy-your-every-day-until-you-get-to-heaven, oh, and yes, heaven-on-earth, let’s-shout-for-victory-now-and-forever because the blessings and favor will reign upon us regardless of our hearts and lives, regardless of our obedience or disobedience, regardless of our devotion to Christ or lack thereof, and don’t forget, this only applies if we have enough faith, and, if we don’t, well, we better muster up some more of it. I was taught being a Christian, now never mind that I’m actually a Jewish Christ follower, is best defined by leaving behind our challenges and entering into pure, unadulterated, delicious, right-this-minute, wave-your-magic-wand-and-get-what-you-want-this-second whatever – from God. And don’t forget to give Him the glory.
Within minutes of hearing from this sweet woman, something miraculous I had never considered came to me. While it is wonderful and possible for some people to live a really happy, thoroughly prosperous life on earth following Christ, not all of us are so blessed. In my case, for instance, I have gone through so many trials and dealt with so much hurt, heartache, and loss, including loss of people, dreams, dogs, etc., that sometimes I feel I can hardly come up for air before another trial comes. But I realized I am living a victorious life beyond imagination! Some who regard my life may hardly call it victorious. But here’s the truth. I have been forgiven my sins, promised eternal life, have entered into an everlasting relationship with God, look forward to forever with Him in heaven, and have an astonishingly, ever-growing, glorious, beautiful, intimate-beyond-imagination, awesomely wonderful, deeper-than-description, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who is the love of my life forevermore. And I spend my life loving and worshiping God and helping others to find and follow Jesus forever. I believe the true “victorious life” is loving, experiencing, rejoicing in, and celebrating Jesus for eternity no matter our life’s circumstances! Glory to God!