In the End, We Win
We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again… we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together…
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 (CEV)
As part of my downtime during these days of “social distancing,” I’ve been bingeing on the old TV series, “24.” Do you remember it? Starring Kiefer Sutherland as anti-terrorism agent, Jack Bauer, each episode is one hour of a 24-hour day.
Every single installment is a cliffhanger that leaves you thinking there’s no way Jack can survive. The tension can be enormous.
But, of course, since the series lasted seven seasons, I wasn’t too worried about whether or not he would make it out of a tight spot. Each episode was not the end of the story. And, in the end, the good guy won.
There’s a parallel between the crises Jack Bauer faced in “24” and the crisis we’re facing with COVID-19. The episode we’re now in seems pretty bleak. There’s no small amount of tension.
But what we need to see is that, in the end, we win. The end of the story has already been revealed. And that can allow for peace in the midst of the uncertainty.
The Apostle Paul was living proof of that. Like Jack Bauer, Paul seemed to be a magnet for trouble. But he took the long view and in so doing he found valuable perspective. Take another look at his words.
We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again…
Paul was confident that, no matter what circumstances he was in, God was with him. That’s not to say that those circumstances weren’t serious.
Eventually, those circumstances included imprisonment and execution. But even then, the Apostle recognized that that wasn’t the end of the story. Note what he wrote next.
…we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together…
Paul knew that, even if he was killed, he couldn’t lose. He knew that in the end, he would win.
And friends, that’s no less true for us. I certainly hope and pray that you will survive this pandemic. However, even if COVID-19 takes your life, if you have placed your faith in Christ, then you will go straight into the presence of the Lord.
And what a moment that will be! When you meet Jesus in heaven all of this stress, sickness, and sorrow will come to an end.
We’re given a peek at this glorious reality in the last book of the Bible.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
(Revelation 21:4-5)
To be sure, this current episode seems pretty hopeless. But you and I would do well to remember that it’s not the end of the story. In the end, we win.
This current episode seems pretty hopeless. But you and I would do well to remember that it’s not the end of the story. In the end, we win.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You that the reality of the resurrection isn’t simply that Jesus was raised from the dead but that I, too, will be raised from the dead. Help me to hold tight to that in these challenging days.
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