winning

Pat walked into a store in Dublin, his face beaten to a pulp. "And who did that to you?" asked the storekeeper.

"I had a fight with Mike Shannon."

"What?" asked the storekeeper, "You let a little guy like that beat you up? You should be ashamed of yourself, a little good-for-nothing runt like Mike."

"Hold on there," said Pat, "don't be talking disrespectfully of the dead."

Sometimes it's hard to tell at first glance who's won the fight. I think of Jesus as he hung on the cross. The disciples (and perhaps even the angels) had to wonder how Jesus could have allowed Satan to beat him up, apparently winning the fight. Though Jesus was battered and bruised, it was truly only his heel that was bruised, and on the third day it was Satan whose head was crushed.

There are times we are tempted to look around us and wonder if we're on the winning side. Satan seems to be winning victory after victory, the world is filled with immorality and evil, and righteousness doesn't seem to have a chance. But appearances can be deceiving.

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4)

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14)

Don't get discouraged. The ultimate victory belongs to those who are on God's side.