Fly Your Flags!
Pastor Chip Kawalsingh
Psalm 20:5 (NLT) - May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.
One of the great things about the World Cup is seeing all the flags being flown around the country in pride, hope and anticipation that something amazing will happen and finally the Cup will come home. Well, we all know by now that’s not going to happen for England! The day of the match against England’s old nemesis, Germany, the flags and banners flew high. Sadly, one hour after the match very few were left to be seen!
I understand disappointment when your team doesn’t do well (I am a West Indies cricket supporter, so I’ve learnt to live in disappointment!), nonetheless, I will always wait in hope that the next match will have a better outcome. Win or lose, my team remains my team. I guess that’s the difference between a true supporter and someone who is just a fan. As a believer, good day or bad, I will follow Christ. Jesus tells us that you will have hardships in this life, but in Him you will always have the victory!
John 16:33 (NLT) - I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Win or lose, we will serve and live for our Lord. We can so easily become ‘fans’ of Christ once He fulfils our checklist of wants and desires, but a true believer is one who stands strong despite difficulties, disappointments and delays. We learn to trust that all things will work for good, that we will overcome and that the best in life is yet to come. These words of the Apostle Paul move me more than most scripture in the Bible:
2 Corinthians 11:23-31 (NLT) - Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have travelled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.
You see, even Paul had bad days, weeks and even years! Yet, in all these things, he says we can be more than overcomers. Even though you may feel like dropping the flag, raise the banner higher and shout out His praise! Rejoice always, and like the Apostle Paul says, again I say rejoice! No matter what you go through in life, we are more than conquerors! Fly your flags in pride for what Christ has done.
