We Win

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 1 Corinthians 15:24

IN WORD

Paul pictures Jesus ruling His Kingdom, destroying all opposition, and then handing the Kingdom over to the Father. We may not understand all the implications of that—Revelation 11:15 is pretty clear that Jesus will reign forever, and Revelation 22:3-6 is just as clear that His saints will reign with Him forever. But in this Kingdom, power struggles are never an issue. He reigns, we reign, the reign is handed over to the Father . . . however it works, we win. The good side is victorious. The Kingdom ends up completely in the right hands and shared among all interested parties.

Knowing the end of the story may not seem all that significant when we’re having a hard day, but it is. Looking forward to that end means we never completely lose hope, never have a reason to say things just aren’t going to get better. Knowing the future outcome sustains us in present trials.

A lot of Christians need to keep that perspective. Many fret and worry about the direction of the world, lamenting how things are getting worse and worse, certain that believers are going to end up losing the battle until Jesus comes to rescue us from it. But that’s not how this story plays out. In light of His promises to be with us and empower us, suggesting that the people of God lose the battle is tantamount to saying God Himself loses the battle. It’s an absurd thought. Jesus comes back to greet His victorious bride, not His defeated servants.

IN DEED

Live from that sense of victory today. Embrace a hopeful view of the end times. Yes, there will be trials, but they will not overcome us. We overcome them. Evil is undone by the power of Jesus in the people who are filled with His Spirit. We have no reason to lament this story or even the daily grind. The Kingdom ends up in the right hands. And we’ll have forever to celebrate it.

ADDITIONAL READING: Revelation 11:15

You can fight with confidence where you are sure of victory. With Christ and for Christ, victory is certain.

BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX