Victory: Victory’s Joy

Our world is full of images of joyful victors. Athletes embrace championship trophies and cups with broad smiles. Actors receive awards with unfeigned delight. Patients who beat cancer leave the doctor’s office elated. Dear Christian, do you feel like a winner? Are you a more-than-joyful conqueror? Not always. The conditions and circumstances of our lives leave us feeling down, deficient, and even defeated. Today, Jesus reminds us that the victory has been secured already, and we will enjoy it in full in a little while. The same God who has the power to bring the dead back to life has the power to turn our grief to joy. And what joy we have! In our reading from Revelation, we are given a glimpse of the joy and glory that await us in heaven. Things that were once precious—jewels and metals—will become pedestrian. Things that we can not imagine—an existence without pain or evil—will be our reality for eternity.