Vision Comes From WithinCampione

Victory [The video portion of this devotional is not available on your device. To view this video, visit your plan at www.youversion.com] I will never forget the first time I walked on to a football field completely blind. It ended up being one of the most exhausting things I have ever tried to do. I had spent the prior year learning how to live life again, and building up strength to make it through each day. I did not have the extra time or strength to exercise. The agilities and drills did not bother me, but the running almost killed me. At the end of that first practice we began to run sprints, and I did not think we would ever stop. We lined up for the last sprint of the day and I began to run. I took a few steps and fell, took a few more and fell again. I fell, not because I didn’t have the coordination to run, but because I didn’t have the energy to lift my feet. I finally finished, got home, and collapsed just inside the door to our house. I laid there for almost thirty minutes before I had the strength to get up and shower. On that day I realized the work and effort it would take for me to play football. Each day got a little easier, and ultimately I played five years of organized football. These small victories serve as milestones in our lives. They encourage us to keep on pursuing our goals and conquering the obstacles that we face. Also, they point us to a final victory that we all need. They point us to the victory that Christ won for us over sin and death. The apostle Paul tells us about this victory in 1 Corinthians 15. He writes, “I tell you this brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death where is your victory? Oh death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 CO 15:50-57).” The small victories that we achieve points us to the glorious victory that we have in Christ. This glorious victory over sin and death should encourage us to never give up on life. It should serve as a beacon, calling to us in the midst of our pain and agony. It should serve as a firm foundation, supporting us during life’s trials and tribulations. It serves as a life preserver that we cling to in the middle of the storms we face. Friend, don’t give up. Keep on persevering through life’s circumstances.