Victory Formation

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57

 

There's nothing a football fan loves to see more than his team take the field and get into the victory formation.  Being of fan of the winningest college football program in history has given me plenty of opportunities to see the victory formation.  Victory formation means the game is all but over.  All the team has to do is snap the football and have the quarterback take a knee and run the clock out.  Three...two...one...VICTORY!

 

Victory is also a term that is important in the life of a Christian.  Paul writes about the victory that Christ won over sin, death, and the power of the devil in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.  Death has lost its sting because Christ has swallowed up death forever.  Christ lived the perfect life required by the Law, died the death our sin deserves, and rose from the grave to assure victory over death for all who put their faith in Him!

 

So what does the "victory formation" look like in the life of a Christian?  For the Christian victory formation is "taking a knee" at the foot of the cross.  You see, the foot of the cross is where we can lay all our sins and burdens.  Christ took those sins and burdens upon Himself on the cross.  He suffered and died for our sins and burdens so that we don't have to hold on to them. 

 

Christ has already won the victory!  Through Baptism into Christ we share in His victory.  The life of a Christian then is one of daily assuming the victory formation - taking a knee at the foot of the cross - and rejoicing the in the victory Christ gives!