THE PRIZE OF VICTORY

THE PRIZE OF VICTORY

The price to pay for victory paves way for the prize of victory. We cannot access life as the prize of victory if we have not paid the price for victory. There is no victory in a battle without a fight. There is no success without passing though failures. There is no overcoming without passing through ups and down. There is no victory therefore without a price. In reality, many people want to be victorious in life, but not everybody wants to pay the price. Are you willing to pay the price in order to access the prize?

            There is no doubt that nobody wants to associate with failure. An athlete in a race does not run for nothing, he runs with the mindset of winning the crown. A warrior preparing for battle will nurse nothing else but victory. A student preparing for exams will expect nothing else but the best. Everyone desires to get success as an end result but only few know that there is something that needs to be done in order to access this success. There is a goal for us to reach, are you running focus-ly towards it or you are walking aimlessly towards it? For Apostle Paul, he said, “I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.” (Philippians 3:14). When you have not acknowledged that there is a crown for you to win, it will be dicey to get access to the crown.

“Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever.” (1 Cor. 9:24-26) Apostle Paul uses a victory crown for winning a race as a parallel to running and winning the race of life. The crown and wreath are used to describe the prize, but how long would the victory crown of a winning athlete remain fresh and green? Not for very long. This is because it would soon shrivel and thereafter lost its value/worth. BUT, the prize of victory I am driving at in this write up is eternal. It is based on Gods own eternal word. The question is, what is your crown? What do you want to be successful at? Is it at riches, fame, wealth, material possessions, etc. all will soon fade in glory? There is a victory crown which can last forever, will you be ready to pay the price to access it?

            Many years ago, a crown was placed on Jesus’ head by the soldiers shortly before the crucifixion. That crown was the ‘victory crown of thorns’ which many say is the most unusual victory crown of all time. Many people at that time most especially the soldiers mocked Jesus and believed that the battle is over and that Jesus has lost. Three (3) days later after His crucifixion, Jesus won many victories by fulfilling the prophecies concerning His life, accomplishing His mission/purpose for which he was sent to this world, and he also defeated death. Oh dear reader, for this reason, I am positively green/sure that Jesus will come back again to take those who are faithful to Him. He is at the right hand side of the father with a wear of a heavenly crown which the enemies could not have stopped. Are you ready for his coming? Are you living with heaven in view? If he comes today, will you follow him? These are questions you must unearth as you journey through life to eternity. 

            The Christian race is not without its suffering and ups and down, yet God expects us to be faithful to the end. There would be a testing period which I often refer to as the wilderness experience period. Remember that this wilderness experience period won’t last long; it is just for a while. There will be trials and temptations, challenges and tribulations on the way, but you need to be faithful to God even to the point of death. If this prize of victory will cost you your life, please never quit and never fear the suffering you will pass through before being crowned by the righteous judge “at that day” (day of judgement). The bible says “Don't be afraid of anything you are about to suffer. Listen! The Devil will put you to the test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory. (Revelation 2:10)

            What actually is this prize of victory and to whom would it be given to? From Revelation 2:10 quoted earlier, the prize of victory is the crown of life. It will interest you to know that the believers are eternally rewarded by Jesus at the judgement seat of Christ with rewards for being faithful to the end and a reward for loving Jesus to the end. These crowns and rewards are the “crown of righteousness (loved the Lord’s appearing), incorruptible crown (disciplined bodies/self control), crown of life (endure patiently through trials), crown of glory (godly leaders who were examples to flock), and crown of rejoicing (soul winners)”. How you live your life here on earth determines the reward you will get on that day.  There is a reward for those who win the race. There is a reward for the overcomers. My dear readers note that Jesus will surely award us with the crown of righteousness if we run this race successfully to the end. Please, don’t give up so soon.

            If you are not aware of these crowns, you may get tired of suffering for the Lord. There is crown if only we wait patiently to the end. The phrase ‘The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer ten days…” (Rev. 2:10) simply suggests that there will be a time where you might think you are in a prison for living a righteous life, but just know that it is for a short moment as signified from the phrase ‘ten days’ which clarifies how short the testing moment would be. Please endure patiently for James 1:12 says “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” How much love do you have for God? A question you must not leave unanswered as you journey to eternity.

            How then can you live your life in such a way as to be given life as the prize of victory? The first step in reality is by being born again. There is possibility of accessing life as the prize of victory by accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal savior through repentance. In our generation, we have many people who claim to be born again; yet, their lives don’t show forth the life of Christ. Being born again is not an improvement of your character or morality; it is a new life that Christ Himself gives. Do you know what the new birth experience really means? The bible says “This means that ANYONE who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Dear reader, do you have the new birth experience? If no, today is an opportunity for you to accept Jesus as you Lord and personal savior.  Jesus has actually paid the price for your salvation on the cross of Calvary. “You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ); then do not yield yourselves up to become (in your own estimation) slaves to men (but consider yourselves slaves to Christ) (1 Cor. 7:23). Jesus is waiting for your response. To access life as the prize of victory, you must remain faithful even when facing death. To ensure victory, you must exercise self control, practice self discipline, fix your eyes on Jesus, focus on the race’s end and run with endurance, never grow weary in waiting for Jesus’ return, loving God with the whole of your heart, and then keeping His commandments.

            Eternal life in itself is a victory crown, and that death loses its victory in Christ. For the faithful, even death brings life; thus, do not be afraid of suffering for Christ. Jesus suffered death so that we might live eternally. “There is a blessing on the man who undergoes testing; because, if he has God's approval, he will be given the crown of life, which the Lord has said he will give to those who have love for him.” (James 1:12) Jesus is our salvation. We must not get tired persevering for the Lord and we must not get tired loving Jesus. If we don’ get tired, victory is sure in the end. As the hymn rightly puts it, “O victory in Jesus, my saviour forever. He sought me, and bought me, with His redeeming blood.” That’s it…so we could have overcome the world. So we could rejoice forever with crowns that do not fade.” In want to conclude with what Apostle Paul said many years ago, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. Now, a prize is waiting for me - the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). May God grant us help us to run this race in such a way as to receive these crowns at the end of our race in Jesus name, Amen. 

“If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.”

(Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 15:19)