We sometimes consider a Christian to be strong and victorious if they do not seem to be living any suffering, if everything seems easy to them, or if they are supplied with material goods. But is that a good way to look at it?
Generally speaking, people consider a Christian to be strong and victorious in what they can see or touch. They look at everything they own, everything that is a financial success, and also regarding relationships (the house, the marriage, the children, and even the little dog!). They often tend to view a Christian as victorious over their success. However, this is not what the Bible teaches us.
There are prayer requests in my life (such as health or meeting my future wife) that I have yet to see answered. Does this mean that I am not a victorious Christian? Absolutely not! What makes me a victorious Christian is to live by faith and to remain attached and faithful to the Lord no matter what. I think this is how I make sure I’m heading for heaven. It is he who perseveres until the end who will be saved (Matthew 24:13). I encourage all of us to keep our eyes focused on the purpose, on the ultimate destination of our journey, which is heaven, and the glorious presence of our God when we will see him face to face. Marriage is not the ultimate outcome of our life, but only a grace, an extraordinary blessing that God allows us on our way. The most important thing is our salvation because it is our eternity!
Do you think Paul had the profile of a victorious Christian? But what was so special about him? Paul went through all kinds of trials, but his faith in God strengthened him (2 Timothy 4:17-18). A victorious attitude is one who LIVES by faith. Keeping the faith is keeping the right attitude, and only in this way will we be the real overcomers over our enemies. He had the right attitude. This attitude did not always spare him sufferings, but it kept him strong to get through it.
Just because we experience lack, depression, illness, singleness, or fear does not mean that we are bad Christians or that we are weak and losers Christians. It is quite possible to have faith in God, to expect His help while living these things. What will make us powerful and victorious Christians will be to keep the right attitude of faith every day of our life until the end.
Why? To be pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6). To be a witness of faith for others. And to encourage other people who are waiting on the same promises as us.
I want to encourage all people who are fighting in faith for their answer to stand firm and persevere and above all do not wait to have received your miracle to testify to the goodness of God or to encourage a person in the same situation as you. Your faith in the trial will serve as a testimony to the glory of God. Let us support one another in love (Colossians 3:13). I believe that keeping the faith, peace, and joy on the path is much more glorious to God than the destination. Without faith (and not without victory), it is impossible to be pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6).
In other words: the attitude of faith that I like to call the victor’s attitude is more important than the victory itself. Keeping faith in God is much more important than receiving whatever we want. Our greatest reward is seeing Jesus face to face and entering into His rest for eternity. If your singleness is a struggle for you, remember that your greatest testimony is your faith. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10.35-39 NKJV).
(This article is a summary of the teaching of Israel on his podcast: Croixance UniT. Click here to listen to the full teaching in French.)