Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

Over the pandemic I reunited with an old friend – Survivor. That’s right, the father of all reality shows and I had been apart for several years when the shutdown brought us back together. I had faithfully watched the first few seasons, but, as it is with many relationships, we drifted away over the years.

I really don’t want to confess how many seasons I’ve watched and since streaming mindless television episodes is not on many people’s list of virtues, I figured I needed to redeem that time with some spiritual application – so here it is.

The premise of Survivor is to gather 20 or so people on some remote location and let them fend for themselves as they systematically vote each other out of the game until there are only 3 left. Those 3 are then voted on by those they had cast out to determine who will win the title of “sole survivor” and the check for one million dollars.  The climax of the season is the final “tribal council” when host Jeff Probst collects all the votes. But instead of revealing the winner then and there, Jeff walks off screen after telling the 3 anxious finalists that the results will be revealed when they are all back in the States for the live season finale. That gap is at least 6 months.

For 6 months the winner has been determined, but not revealed. For 6 months someone is sure to be a millionaire, but no check is cut. For 6 months victory has been determined, but the celebration is delayed. There is a gap between the victory and the celebration.

We are living in the gap.

Christian, the votes have been cast and good has been confirmed the run-a-way winner. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Satan and all his evil minions have been defeated. It turned out that it really wasn’t even a contest. The devil has been voted off and his destiny is set – the Lake of Fire.

The dilemma is that even though victory has been secured the winner has not been publicly revealed. There is a gap between victory and celebration and during that gap the Devil is still creating doubts in our minds that he has a chance. Since he knows he’s going down he wants to take as many of us with him. That’s how he is. He’s always been that way. He’s always tried to rob victory from us.

But know this - Satan has been defeated and his fate is sure.  As wily as he is, he has been outplayed, outlasted, and outwitted.

We are living in the gap between victory and celebration but don’t doubt that one day the gap will come to a close. One day we will all be gathered together as the final pronouncement is made. One day the Producer will give the orders.

Dim the lights. Cue the celebration music. Set off the fireworks. Release the confetti. Read the results. Good Wins!