We have heard in recent years about cases where someone
was condemned for a crime, and then through DNA testing was found innocent.
Imagine how that must have felt. A court of law had condemned
you, but then against all odds and against all hope you were exonerated.
According to God’s Word, this was the condition for those who are
in Christ Jesus. We were guilty, had been found guilty, and had
been condemned, but in Jesus Christ we have forgiveness and we are no
longer condemned. This merits celebrating, right?
If that is the case, then why are so many followers
of Christ walking around acting as if they are still enslaved and still
under the bondage and mastery of sin? Rather than walking forward
in the victory Jesus has promised, they are surrendering in defeat.
According to the Bible, this is not God’s plan. The abundant
life Jesus promised does not come by laying down in defeat, but rather
the abundant life comes when we by faith rise up, get going, trust Jesus,
and start acting like conquerors and over-comers. I look around
and I see followers of Jesus Christ cowering in fear, and you know something?
I have done that myself – too many times. The over-arching theme
of God’s grace in the Bible is spiritual victory over what enslaves
us. Jesus said in John 10:10 that He has
come that we might have life and have it more abundantly. The
abundant life means spiritual victory.
The high call of God in Christ Jesus is to walk forward
in victory rather than defeat. We begin to sink when we allow
our focus to be on our problems, the world, and ourselves. This
reminds me of Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples when the Lord
invited Him to step out of the boat and walk on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). The moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. Do not set our eyes on the storms of life, but instead set our eyes
on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We were condemned,
but we now have new life, freedom, and victory in Christ. Life
is too short to spend it wrapped in fear and worry.
Christ invites us to step out of the boat and experience
the fullness of His grace and power. Do not be afraid, but instead
claim the peace and joy that is ours in Christ.
God Bless you today.
