“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” was a slogan used for many years by ABC’s sports anthology program Wide World of Sports, which ran for 37 years on the network. As you might imagine, the show celebrated all the triumphant moments in sports, along with the catastrophes. The Bible is full of victories of God’s faithful people. The Lord saved the Israelites by defeating the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:27-15:1). When David faced multiple enemies of Israel, God gave him victory (2 Samuel 8:1-3, 5-6, 14). The obedient is assured of victory (1 John 5:4-5).
The ultimate thrill of victory is going to Heaven. Revelation 21:1-7 describes the beauties of this wonderful place: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
Along with the promise of victory, there also exists the agony of defeat. Revelation 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Later in the chapter, John added, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 27). People try to win at all costs because everyone likes winning. The sad part is, however, that people care too much about winning in areas that do not matter. We need more people who want to win and go to Heaven. “Faith is the victory,” and it is the only victory that matters.
Kyle Campbell