‘As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you, O God’. (Psalm 42:1)‘thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV)
“Cricket’s coming home, it’s coming home.” After over 40 years of hurt England’s men have won the cricket world cup for the first time as they defeated New Zealand. Sunday 14 July 2019 will go down in cricket history as the closest, most tense final ever. With scores tied after both innings and tied after the deciding ‘super over’ England won on a count back of the most boundaries scored in the match. After seven weeks of pulsating cricket victory came with the last ball bowled; it could not have been more dramatic. In the darkest hour of the match for England they needed a hero to step up and lead them to victory. Cometh the hour cometh Ben Stokes! His undefeated 84 earned him the man of the match award, paving the way for England’s success and for jubilant celebrations from English fans.
In the darkest hour for humanity we needed somebody to come and give us victory over those things that held us captive and which we couldn’t defeat. Cometh the hour cometh Jesus Christ! He defeated Satan by disarming him and making a public spectacle of him at the cross (Colossians 2:15)
and has defeated sin and death setting us free (Romans 8:2)
. The life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus will go down in human history as the greatest victory of all time and will lead to all humanity joyfully lifting high the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9–11)
.
Watching the closing stages of the cricket world cup final was torturous. It was edge of the seat stuff, going through every emotion and mental agony in the space of a few minutes. Would England win or would they lose? One moment we were up, the next were down. There was no rest or peace, just agonising tension not knowing how the game was going to end. How different with Jesus. No doubt, no wondering whether or not he would defeat our enemies, in him our victory was certain and secure. When we realise what Jesus has done for all humanity and come to him the result is both rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
and peace (John 14:27)
. Now that’s worthy of jubilant celebration.
Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to free us from the bondage of Satan, sin and death so that we could live in the victory he has achieved for us. May we experience and show to others your peace and the rest that comes from you, and may we never neglect rejoicing in his victory.
Amen
Have a restful and peaceful week.
Pastor Barry
