I have been a participant in a few parades in my life.  The most memorable one I was in by accident.  I was in junior high at the time and was on a family summer vacation in Kansas City.  My dad took a wrong turn and somehow we ended up driving down the middle of an African American parade.  I believe it was part of a Juneteenth celebration.  We waved at the crowds like we belonged and they waved back, but we seemed out of place.  After a few blocks we were able to exit from the parade.

In II Corinthians 2:14 the Bible states "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him (NIV)."  Our lives are described as continually moving forward in triumph.  Is that how we view our lives or do we feel out of place in this perpetual victory parade?  Do we even see ourselves as participants in a triumphal procession?

One reason we may not feel like we are part of a victory parade is that we don't realize the focus of that parade.  In Kansas City, we stumbled into a parade that we were unaware was going on and whose purpose we didn't understand.  As Christians we can be drawn into viewing our lives the same as the world does, only we expect divine help in our seeking of our own comfort and pleasure.  The purpose of the procession is spreading everywhere the knowledge of him.  II Corinthians 3:18 says that we are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.  The applause and adulation is for Christ's glory and not ours.  It is not about us. 

 

Another reason we may not feel like we are in a victory parade is that even though Jesus has won the ultimate victory we are still in the battle.  The fact that we are in triumphal procession doesn't mean, for us, that the battle has ended.  II Corinthians 4:7-9 says "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  It is easy to focus on our trials rather than the end victory. These trials are the very things that help ensure that we are victorious in the end.  The treasure is in jars of clay so the world does not perceive it. Sometimes we fail to remember it.  "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:57-58).

                                                    ~ written by Greg Bickel