Victory Through Defeat

Often the Christian faith is contrary to our natural way of thinking. Stan Jones, a missionary to India, said that neither Hindu karma nor Muslim kismet could bring about change in a person’s life. But the cross, he said, is different: “The cross never knows defeat, for it is of itself defeat, and you cannot defeat that which is already defeated. You cannot break brokenness. The cross starts with defeat and accepts dying as a way of living. But in that very attitude it finds its victory.”

That He, the God of life, should conquer death by embracing it. That He should destroy the power of sin by letting it destroy Him. How awesome! It is the same for us, friend. Just as Luke 17:33 says, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.” After all, if you’ve already died to yourself, what hold could that possibly have on you? That’s a powerful lesson today from your Savior.