When was the last time you felt like saying, “I give up?” Maybe you were trying to become a long-distance runner and realized by mile 3 that this kind of running is not for you. Maybe you felt like giving up after trying unsuccessfully to teach your child to put their dishes in the dishwasher rather than just the sink. These are lighthearted scenarios, but we face many serious, challenging scenarios when we feel like giving up as we walk through the trials and difficulties of this life. In the moments when we feel like quitting and giving up, those of us who have placed our faith in Christ must hold on to the truth that in the end, we will walk in victory because of what Christ has done for us.
Paul wrote about the victory available in Jesus Christ in Romans 8. Yesterday, we learned about the question Paul asked in this chapter about suffering and God’s love. He said, “Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” (verse 35). Of course, Paul answered this question by saying, “No,” but he did not stop there. He continued answering this question by saying, “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (verse 37). Yes, we will walk through suffering and difficulties here on this earth, but if we place our faith in Christ, we can hold on to this promise that, through Jesus, we will be victorious.
Paul wrote in depth about this victory we will have in Christ in another book of the Bible that he wrote, 1st Corinthians 15. In this passage of Scripture, he described the day Christ will return and “our dying bodies” will be transformed “into bodies that will never die” (verse 53). When our bodies are transformed, Paul pointed back to two different Old Testament passages of Scripture, writing, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (verse 55). The answer to this question is that death’s victory and sting will be no more in light of Christ’s victory and defeat of sin and death. Paul reminds us that our victory is only through Christ as he wrote, “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 57). Indeed, our victory is only because of and through Jesus Christ, His death, and His resurrection.
Have you felt like giving up lately? I encourage you to keep going. Keep following God. Keep obeying Him. Keep making decisions to honor Him. Don’t give up. Remember, “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ.”
Write down the phrase “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ” that is found in Romans 8:37 on a notecard or even with an Expo marker on your mirror if you are willing. Every time you see this phrase, cling to the truth found in these words. Remember that you can keep going because, in the end, “overwhelming victory is ours through Christ.”
“God, I set my eyes on You and the victory available through Jesus Christ. Strengthen me…”
35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. 39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
