Victory is something most Christians desire or need in at least one area of their lives. We long to see the enemy lose, for circumstances to change and for darkness to flee. Most of us likely have a picture in our minds of what we think our victory ‘should’ look like. I certainly did, however God showed me that the image I had of the ‘victorious life’ was actually an incredibly worldly image and was not a lot like a godly, kingdom victory. I confess I have desired a ‘comfortable’ victory, with worldly riches and blessings and with my problems just sorted out and gone away. But I don’t think that is the picture of victory I want to be longing for anymore. 

Jesus’ victory was death on a cross. How many of us picture that when we see and long for our victory? We probably more visualise the resurrection, all things restored and healed! But Jesus triumphed over the powers and authorities of the dark world by the cross (Colossians 2:15). The resurrection only came after the most awful death and suffering imaginable, the cross. How many of us are willing to go to the cross where the victory was won before we experience our glorious resurrection?

We probably won’t ever face a physical cross but are we willing to die to ourselves, to completely give ourselves over to sacrificial love and costly obedience, and truly reflect Jesus on this earth by living a life lived only for God? 

True victory on this earth is a life lived dead to the ego and dead to the lusts of the world and flesh, yet alive fully to God. What if we could live a victorious life now, without anything in our circumstances changing, by choosing the death-to-self life and to be wholly alive to God? 

Only when we are willing to die, choosing to lay everything down, is God able to resurrect us. 

Jesus’ death-to-self is fully displayed and explained in this scripture:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Philippians 2:6-8 NIV

Death to self is complete obedience to God, whatever the cost. It means doing what God asks of us, however extreme, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Jesus humbled himself and lay down everything, all his outer-glory, his status, his position – the Son of God made himself nothing! He died the most humiliating, excruciating death on the cross which he didn’t deserve, all because he said yes to the Father’s will and put that yes above his own comfort, his own will and his own self-image. 

But the scripture continues, showing us that because Jesus lay down everything, God was then able to exalt him to the highest position.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11 NIV

When we are willing to humble ourselves and submit to God completely, then he can raise us up. Often we want victory ‘our way’ with our own conditions and ideals. We want God to do what we want him to do and try to stay in control. But there is victory in the letting go, in the complete submission to God, letting him do whatever he wants to because we know he can and will do it better than we could hope for. 

I think the western world sees the victorious life as a suffering-free life, but that is not what Jesus displays to us and that is not what the bible calls us too. We can too often think if I am suffering then I must be outside of God’s will and that God wouldn’t ask me to walk down any path that leads to suffering. Our goal can become to have a life free from suffering. But if Jesus did not live a life free from suffering in this world, why do we feel we should be exempt from it?

What is the image of victory you have for your life? Is it a life lived fully unto God whatever the cost or a life free from suffering where you are comfortable?