I like winning things, and my overly-competitive nature is the stuff of local legend. From my high school cross country coaching career, I think the video is still out there on the internet somewhere of the day my best runner was out-kicked at the finish line of the state championships. The clipboard in my hands at that moment ended up in multiple pieces.

During several of those 13 years of coaching I had a girls team that was truly a rare powerhouse. Winning meet after meet, only the very best teams in much larger schools had any chance of beating them. In our division in Maryland, even if every other school in the state combined as one, my girls would probably still win the title. I liked it that way! Knowing we were going to win made everything about it a lot more fun and relaxing.

That is how it is with our hero, Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate guaranteed winner. I am not sure I could stick with this faith adventure in the midst of such a sinful world if I did not right now know the end of the story. A lot of circumstances do not seem fair and do not make sense, even with knowledge of how things end; but I know it will all culminate in the establishment of righteousness and justice.

I remember in elementary school being taught to read a book by starting with the first chapter, then going to the last chapter, and finally reading all the stuff in between. That always seemed kind of dumb to me. But maybe it really does make sense! Once in a while when I’m reading a novel and I begin to really like a character, I’ll look at the back of the book to see if the person is still alive and part of the story. It makes me less stressful about what might happen to him or her in the meantime.

That is similar to how I am able to find peace in a bonkers world. I have read ahead to the end of the book. Jesus wins in the end, and I am on his team… so, I am going to keep my eye on the ball and enjoy playing the game.

^{Revelation 19:11} I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.