WHEN LOSING IS WINNING

By Pr. Phil Lewis

Nobody likes losing.  And there is deep sense of loss when we see a man, whose character, origins, and moral positions are quite questionable, rise to the highest position in our nation.  But for those of us who follow Christ and believe in the sovereignty of God, we know that we must pray for this new leader, and trust that God allowed him to become president for such a time as this.  We must remember that what we count as gain, must sometimes be counted as loss, that what can be meant for evil, God can turn for good, and that sometimes losing, is winning.

Singer John Fischer wrote: “losing is winning if it turns you around, all looks clearer when you’re close to the ground; when you know you’re lost, then you can be found; you walk out a winner!”  When expectations are dashed, when hopes are betrayed, or when we stare failure in the face, it is hard to consider loss as gain.  So when is losing, winning?

Losing is winning when it brings us to our knees in true repentance, and humble dependence.  James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”  It is true that we need “change” in our nation.  But the change God seeks is one of the heart.  Repentance is a “180”, a complete turn-about. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8).  2 Chronicles 7:14 states “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  We must repent of our sins as a nation, and particularly as the people of God (“For judgment must first begin at the house of God” 1 Peter 4:17).  We must acknowledge that we are not our own, and that we don’t have the answers, nor the capability to lead ourselves.  Jesus said “for without me ye can do nothing.”

Losing is winning when it turns us to Christ – we acknowledge where our only hope lies.  The Apostle Paul declares “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus”; “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”.  Nothing compares to fully experiencing the life and power of Christ.  All things we hold dear, and even all expectations do not compare with our life in Him.  He is our healer – “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Mal. 4:2)  “he hath torn, and he will heal” (Hosea 6:1).  The one who can bring healing to our souls as well as our nation is Jesus.  And He is our wisdom – “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”.  Only Jesus has the answers.  He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  And “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Prov. 21:1)  God is still on His throne, and no circumstance, no hardship, and no loss has caught Him by surprise, nor is beyond His control.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Yes, even our losses and our failures, if they “turn us around”.

Finally, losing is winning when it gets us on track.  It doesn’t leave us where we are.  “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Prov. 24:16).  This is the indomitable spirit.  We get back up and continue to “fight the good fight”: 1. To live right – turning from any wicked ways, and seeking the Lord while He may be found, calling upon Him while He is near (Is. 55:6,7).  2. To serve one another: We need to get our eyes off ourselves, our own desires, and our own expectations.  God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than ours (Is. 55:9).  In Isaiah 58 He tells us to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to free the oppressed, to break every yoke.  He implores us to feed the hungry, house the poor, clothe the naked, to take care of our own, and stop accusations and doing “our own thing”.  When we begin truly living this way, the Lord declares “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” (vs. 8)  And He adds “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” (vs. 12)  Losing is winning when it gets us on track to live right, to serve others, and – 3. -To be a witness.  King David experienced brokenness, deep personal loss and failure in his sin with Bathsheba, conspiracy to murder, and all the consequences thereof.  As conviction and repentance drove him to his knees, and to God, he penned the following words:  “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Ps. 51:12, 13).  In His brokenness he understood that God’s power to restore would make him an effective witness to others.

God desires to draw us close to Himself, to change us into the likeness of His dear Son.  Sometimes this means “tearing”, so He can heal.  Sometimes we simply have wrong priorities.  Sometimes He has plans beyond our comprehension.  Sometimes He is simply drawing us into a deeper understanding and relationship with Him.  Job, one who feared God, did nothing to deserve the loss of his goods, his family, his health.  Yet at the end of his ordeal he stated “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” (Job 42:5)  He came to a much deeper, personal, knowledge of God.  Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation, but to be of good cheer, because He had overcome the world (John 16:33).  Paul declared that we are “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).  “If God be for us, who can be against us?”  The final chapter for you and for me has been written by God.  When you can’t see His hand, you can trust His heart.

Despite any loss in your life -  be it national, or personal, brought about by others, or by your own personal failure, God is still God, He is still for you, and losing is still winning when it drives you into His arms as you acknowledge His Lordship, accept His plan, act in faith, and attest to the ultimate victory He has for you.

Amen.  And God bless.

Pr. Phil Lewis