Pastor's Pen
by Buzz Dahlen
Do you remember the famous saying, “the game is not over till the fat lady sings?”  It seems to me that I heard that being said in an interview, when it was first said, but I can’t remember who said it and at what sporting event.  But we all understand what it means.  It was once said, in a similar situation, “it aint over till it’s over.”  Again, we understand the message being conveyed.  
We accept the idea for most of the situations that we find ourselves in, accept when it comes to “life.”  Too often, we give up when the going gets tough.  We quit way before the final buzzer sounds.  I think that is why I like baseball and tennis.  There is no time limit.  The game is over when the final point is scored, until then there is always a potential for a comeback, no matter what the score is.  
I remember a Mariner’s game that I attended where they were up by 13 runs.  It was a nice day and so it was pleasant to witness this blowout.  But then a run here and run there, an error, a hit, a “ball four” instead of a “Strike three” and the other team came back to beat the M’s.  That made me a believer.  It’s never over till it’s over…
So why do we quit so early in the game of life.  Why do we give up, give in way before the last point has been scored.  Unfortunately, I believe it is because most people prefer to be in the position of the victim.  Most have an expectation that they are going to lose.  Most likely, they think that way so that when they do lose, they won’t be disappointed.  It’s hard enough to lose and be disappointed taboot. 
There are two ways to look at this of course naturally or spiritually.  Naturally, we have to depend on past experience and hope.  I know that the Sun came up yesterday, so no matter how dark it may seem during the night, there is a really good chance that the Sun will come up tomorrow.  Still there are those who think that the Sun will not come up, if you know what I mean.  Then there is the, glass half empty vs. the glass half full way of thinking.  It is all about your perspective.  Again, there is the, just adjust your attitude group.  Turn your lemons into lemonade.  All of those are helpful when you are dealing with life naturally, but they don’t always help.  Too many variables.  If you are going to live life naturally, you are going to deal with it naturally.  I want to encourage you to live life Spiritually…
Paul writes: But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:57-58
God has given us the victory already.  We have been made victorious in Christ through His death and resurrection.  If this is true, why do we live such defeated lives, especially when God says that we have the victory?  There are a few general reasons…  John writes: This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:3-5
We have the victory in Christ, if we love God.  If we love God, we will obey His command.  If we obey His command, we will walk in His victory.  In order to walk in the victory we must walk in faith.  What does faith do for us; it causes us to BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God.
So, to sum up, if you do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you will not be able to experience the victory.   God offers you His victory; it’s yours to accept.
If you have accepted Christ as your Savior and you are not experiencing the victory, maybe you just need to start walking in the victory.  That’s not to say that miserable things won’t happen, it just means you don’t have to be defeated by them.  This subject is worth giving more thought to…

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