Undefeated

Many of my posts (like this one) support the little guy. I love to see the Davids defeat the Goliaths... unless the Goliaths are my favourites. In many ways this is a very biblical storyline. Weak, little, young David defeats strong, big, experienced Goliath by the power of God.

We find throughout the Bible that God uses outcasts and people with serious problems to accomplish his mission. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 1:27 we read that God intentionally "selected the world’s weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong." (VOICE)  A little later in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul describes how in a time of struggle God explained to him, "My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." (MSG)

God's strength comes into its own in your weakness.

This really seems like biblical authority to cheer for the underdog. It justifies my dislike of the Yankees (MLB), Collingwood (Aussie Rules), Patriots (NFL) and Kentucky Basketball (NCAA).

The last on that list is particularly pertinent today as the Kentucky Wildcats just completed an undefeated regular season of college basketball. Their 31-0 season makes them a unanimous #1 in the Associated Press poll and a prohibitive favourite to win the national championship.

I find it all a bit boring really. 

Kentucky wins.  Kentucky wins again. Oh, that's a close one... but Kentucky wins again. et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Then I realised. God is like the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats. He's big. He's dominant. He's undefeated.

In Jesus, God defeated Satan. God defeated sin. God defeated death. And while we continue to play the game, the outcome is sure. God wins. Because we're on God's team, we win too.

When Jesus hung on the cross it appeared that Satan was victorious, but Jesus came back from the dead and the result wasn't even close. Now we wait the final trumpet [buzzer] when we get to celebrate with Him.

I don't always feel like a winner, so I need reminders that although I'm a David, God's even bigger than the Goliaths in my life. And I'm on His team.

I still don't like Kentucky, but if they help me think of my God I can appreciate them for that.

                                                                                                                      

Stay close because I am going to tell you a mystery—something you may have trouble understanding: we will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be transformed. ⁵² It will all happen so fast, in a blink, a mere flutter of the eye. The last trumpet will call, and the dead will be raised from their graves with a body that does not, cannot decay. All of us will be changed! ⁵³ We’ll step out of our mortal clothes and slide into immortal bodies, replacing everything that is subject to death with eternal life. ⁵⁴ And, when we are all redressed with bodies that do not, cannot decay, when we put immortality over our mortal frames, then it will be as Scripture says:

Life everlasting has victoriously swallowed death.
⁵⁵ Hey, Death! What happened to your big win?
    Hey, Death! What happened to your sting?

⁵⁶ Sin came into this world, and death’s sting followed. Then sin took aim at the law and gained power over those who follow the law. ⁵⁷ Thank God, then, for our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, the Liberating King, who brought us victory over the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 (VOICE)