Winning!

You remember when Charlie Sheen went crazy?  There he was, the star of television's #1 comedy.  Then, in a matter of a few days, he threw it all away.  His motto during all of this?  "Winning!"

It was pretty obvious to even the casual observer that Charlie Sheen wasn't making winning choices.  Actually, you could say that those choices made a winner into a loser.  People make all sorts of losing choices every day, but, most often, they're far less obvious than a Charlie Sheen type bender.

So where do you look for your victory?  Lots of people seek victory in their employment.  While your earthly vocation certainly provides you with meaningful opportunities, it's not going to last forever, and any job can take a turn for the worse without much warning.  Lots of people try to "win" by seeking the approval of others.  While it's not bad to do your best to please a spouse, employer or parent, it's not their approval that matters in the end.  I'm obviously not going to be able to name everyone's personal quest for victory here.  But it's something for you to reflect upon.

Where should we look for victory?  Is it too simple to say, "Jesus"?  Today was, "Saints Triumphant" Sunday in the church year.  It's the day that we celebrate the victory that is ours because of Jesus.  Today's second lesson was from Hebrews chapter ten.  Look at verse 17:

         “Their sins and lawless acts
         I will remember no more.”
Now that's winning.  God has put our sins completely out of his memory.  He's forgotten them.  This is our victory.  So, if you, as a Christian, claim to be, "Winning!" it'll be true.
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord!