The Death That Brings Victory!

How can death bring us victory?  Just look at the Cross of Calvary, without Christ's death on the Cross there would be NO victory over sin, death , hell and the grave.  Well, of course His resurrection brought about the victory but without His death there would have been no reason for His resurrection! 

Christ has conquered our greatest two enemies, Satan and sin!  So we can just sit back on our laurels and coast into heaven right?  WRONG!  We still battle our flesh.  Yes we live by faith but we still have to strive against sin and our flesh.  Dying to self  is so HARD!  I truly believe it's easier to die to what we consider "big" sins, than it is to die to "little" sins.  Which by the way aren't "little" in God's sight.  Those habits & hang-ups we have grown accustom to living with have to go!  The ways we have learned to respond & react to situations and others is one of the hardest things to die to. Why, because they are rooted in pride!

While we do have a race to run, and we do have an enemy to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and our testimony and yes,  in the end we will see the victory;  it is not without a cost to SELF.  Self has to die in order that we may truly live in Christ!  It is called sanctification.  It is an on-going process from the time we are born again until we see Jesus Christ face to face.  If you don't believe me go read Romans 6 the entire chapter.  We are called to be warriors over our flesh.  To not let sin master us.  To no longer offer our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness but to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness.  That my friends takes work on our part.  Paul uses lots of athletic terms to describe the Christians walk with the Lord; words like: striving, fighting, running.   So,  indeed it takes effort, energy and exertion to embrace this abundant life Jesus promised to those who would love Him and obey Him.  God keeps reminding me to crucify the I.  I actually see the word C R U C I F Y with the "I" crossed out in my minds eye and it always grabs my attention. I guess He really wants me to understand that in order to live in the "resurrection power" He used to bring His Son back to life I must first learn to die!

Thankfully, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith if we keep our eyes on Him (the prize) we will overcome and victory is ours! Thank you Jesus. The truly Victorious One!

In the shadow of the Almighty,

Renee