BY: Dr. Gil Lain, Lead Pastor
So much of the news these days is about the Olympics. I like it though, — mainly because it’s mostly good news rather than bad.
Have you had the opportunity to look online or see on the television what insignia is on the medals? The writing says XXX Olympiad London 2012. The picture is a likeness of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
It’s pretty hard to miss the word Nike when it comes to anything athletic. It’s a brand name, as you know. It means victory. Did you know that the word Nike (‘νίκη’ in Greek) is found in Scripture? There are several New Testament verses that have a form of the word, yet the exact word nike stands out prominently in 1 John 5:4. “And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”
The explanation of 1 John 5:4 is found in the next verse. “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
When we place our faith in Jesus, we have victory – victory to overcome any obstacle this world brings our way, and victory over death.
I’ll never win an Olympic medal of any kind. But, the truth is, I have victory because of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:57 puts it this way: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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