DON’T GIVE UP ON VICTORY

It is stating the obvious to say life is a battle. The Christian life is a battle. All-out war. However, life’s being a battle not only bespeaks of its struggles, losses, wounds, causalities, and hardships, it also bespeaks of its victories, spoils, gains, and acquisitions. Some forget this. Yes, we are in a battle, but that only means there are victories to be had. Some have given up on there being any such thing as victory. Some have given up on victory just before it would have been theirs. That was Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade. Twice, the Lionheart with his crusading army fought his way to within striking distance of Jerusalem and turned back. The second time, victory, had he only known it, would have been all but sure. On the first attempt, the Lionheart had fought his way down the Mediterranean’s coast, the western border of the Holy Land, conquering each successive port city he encountered. Then, he fought his way eastward towards Jerusalem, painstakingly slow, in order to rebuild fortifications between which he could string a supply line back to the ports. He reached the point where the next march would have ended at Jerusalem, the goal, the aim, the prize. This first attempt at conquering the Holy City in 1191 ended in a Crusader council of war convened by Richard I. It determined that given the winter conditions and the enemies’ superior numbers in the field around the City and garrisoned within, Jerusalem could not be taken. An eyewitness later disagreed noting later that the crusaders did not take into account that the enemy troops had become so exhausted, affected by the same conditions, that, their famous commander Saladin, having trouble keeping them together, had disbanded them and sent them home. He had left himself only a small number to defend Jerusalem. There was a window of time before a contingency of fresh troop reinforcements arrived that Jerusalem’s walls could have been breached and her defenders driven out. Yes, in 1191 Jerusalem very likely could have been conquered by the Lionheart. Instead, he and the crusaders turned back short of victory. In that second attempt in 1192, during the better weather of summer, the Lionheart again marched his troops to Jerusalem. This time it was Saladin that held a council of war. He and his generals concluded that they and their army were set for defeat. Saladin decided to leave Jerusalem and began preparations to do so. That evening his scouts reported that the Crusaders had mounted up as if prepared to attack, then, instead of heading towards Jerusalem, they returned to their tents. The next morning, July 4, again the Crusaders abandoned the field and gave up on Jerusalem. The Crusaders had again been on the cusp of victory, taking the Holy City. They gave up on victory just before they would have obtained it. They gave up on a victory that would have been all but certain. They turned their backs on Jerusalem. They retreated. Seeing them leave, Saladin and his armies within the City’s walls rejoiced with great delight and, instead of deserting Jerusalem, remained entrenched. The crusaders’ leader, the Lionheart, wasn’t so, well, Lionhearted. The Third Crusade was the Christian’s West largest and most organized crusade, led by the greatest of its kings. Yet, when the Lionheart left the Holy Land, Jerusalem was still held by its Islamic conquerors. As I write this, I keep hearing the words of a song our choir sings: “Don’t give up on victory.” Don’t give up on victory. Don’t turn back from victory. Don’t give up on victory over the temptation with which you are struggling. Don’t give up on victory of reconciliation in your marriage. Don’t give up on victory in reaching your God-given goals. Don’t give up on victory in a turn-around in the decline in your church. Don’t give up on victory of your lost family’s being saved. Don’t give up on victory of a soul, mind, or body healing. Our commander and King is more than Lionhearted. He is the Lion. He will not only lead us to victory, He has already obtained it. We don’t fight for victory. We fight in victory. You’re on the brink, the cusp of victory. Don’t turn back. Don’t abandon the field. Don’t retreat. Let me just say it again, “Don’t give up on victory.” Pastor Clifford Hurst

DON’T GIVE UP ON VICTORY

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