We’re Gonna Lose

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

“We’re gonna lose.” I was a freshman in high school and our class was about to play the sophomore class in the annual Gluten Bowl at Fresno Adventist Academy. Though we had practiced quite a bit in the weeks leading up to the contest, we lacked something the other team actually had – athletes. Though I was big into sports, not too many others in my class were. The sophomores, on the other hand, had many guys who were into sports. Additionally, several of them were on the school’s varsity football team. So, it was with all of this in mind that I declared to the team as we prepared to take the field, “We’re gonna lose.” And, we did. Big. We got destroyed. I don’t remember the exact score, but it was something like 66-0.

Something I’ve learned over the years (in my athletic and professional career) is that if you approach the playing field with a defeated attitude, you will be defeated, generally in a big way. When you approach the playing field with confidence and courage, the outcome is generally good. Sure, you don’t win every time you take the field; but, your performance is much stronger, and you can hold your head high knowing you fought hard and did your best.

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of Christians that move through life as if they are going to lose. They are pessimistic about everything. They walk around with an attitude of defeat, acting as if being a Christian is like playing for the perpetual underdog. However, it’s quite the opposite. We are on the winning team!

When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we inherit all of the power, majesty, splendor, and strength of God. Last time I checked, He is the most powerful being in the universe, and He is leading our team. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that nothing and no one can stand against Him. So, every time He takes the field, He wins. And, catch this, He actually wants us as His teammates. We live in victory not defeat.

Therefore, let us have the proper attitude. We must stand firm in our faith. We need not be embarrassed to call ourselves Christians. Let us be courageous in our faith. God will lead us into some crazy situations, but He will always see us through. Be strong in our faith. Rely on the power of God, and He will destroy all that the enemy throws against us. Remember, Jesus wins!