“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
One day soon there will be a shout sounded around the globe that only the Christian warrior can give. It will be a shout of victory that will ring loud and true. It will be a shout of triumphant people as they rejoice. It will be a shout that will make the heavens and earth quake. It will be a shout that will ring across mountaintops, valleys, plains and seas. It will be the victor’s shout!
As the apostle Paul writes here in his letter to the church at Corinth, he recalls the saying that is written in Isaiah 25:8, “He (Jesus) will swallow up death in victory.” As Paul remembers this Scripture, I can see Paul now as joy swells up in his soul. His heart begins to pound a little harder at such a wonderful thought. It builds and builds within him until he finally bursts forth with the cry, “O death, where is thy sting?! O grave, where is thy victory?!!!”
Christian warrior, for too long the Church has held her head low; slumped over in defeat; allowing the devil to steal our victory. It’s time we once again hold our heads up high; to square our shoulders and prepare ourselves to give the final victor's shout of total victory in Christ Jesus! No matter how wicked this planet is becoming, there is a spirit of victory in the air. People are starting to hunger for the things of God again. Revival is breaking out across the nations. The Holy Spirit is flowing through the body of Christ in power and authority. We have already read the final chapter, the final page of the Book, and we win!
I know it’s hard to see where the victory is when you are down in the valley. When you’re going through trials, tribulations and temptations, sometimes it seems so dark that you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But just hold on a little while longer. You’re almost out! The battle’s almost won! Victory is just around the corner. Jesus will lead you through.
In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John was privileged to look into time and view the end-time events. In a manner true to all God anointed prophets, he painted a drastic picture of future events. But, praise God, he also showed us that we would have the victory. He promises glorious and complete victory to all of God’s faithful children. Just read what he says about us riding with Jesus:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
I have only one question to ask you – do you think that King Jesus, our Commander-in-Chief of the armies of heaven, would allow us to ride with Him if we were defeated? If we were not overcomers through His power? No! Only the blood-bought, blood-washed warriors of the Kingdom of Heaven will be able to ride with Him in this victorious procession to finally bind all the enemies of God. We will ride in victory!
Christ is our victory; and in Him we are triumphant over every foe. We must recognize that it’s only through Jesus that we can ever be victorious. We can be sure of this because Jesus Himself has already promised it to us. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). This sounds like a promise of victory to me!
It doesn’t matter what we may go through in the warfare we are engaged in, for we have been assured that we will have ultimate final victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. Paul writes in Romans 8:35,37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” John continues this positive victory talk, when he wrote in Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Victory is in Jesus!
Right now, the hour may be dark, but there is a beautiful dawn just ahead. One day soon, the battles are going to be over. The pain and sorrow will be behind us. Our God will wipe away the tears from our eyes. It’s almost time. He’s almost here! Hold on, child of God. You can make it! You don’t have to be defeated. You don’t have to stay down if you are knocked down. Get back up! Keep fighting the good fight. Take your eyes off of your battle and fix your eyes on Jesus. Then, shout the victor’s shout! Shout it for the whole world to hear! Shout it so loud that devils tremble and the earth quakes before us! Victory is ours, and there isn't anything the devil can do about it.