Those who are into walking, jogging, running (I only "indulge" in the first), golf, basketball, soccer, even skateboarding and snowboarding, are well acquainted with a brand of athletic shoes (and other sports equipment) known as Nike. That is an interesting name. According to an article in Wikipedia, the company was founded on January 25, 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. It officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1978. The company takes its name from Nike (pronounced Nee-kay, with the accent on the first syllable), the Greek goddess of victory. Whoever (whether Bowerman, Knight, or someone else) decided on the name pulled off a great commercial coup in so far as the significance of the name is concerned, whether the users of Nike products are aware of the meaning of the word or not. The word (and its derivatives) passed into common Greek usage to mean victory, victor, conquest, conqueror, etc.
A recent "News & Views" referred to the fact that the apostle Paul in his writings frequently alluded to athletic events, especially races (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). He also frequently employed the word nike in its various forms. For example, in his extensive treatment of the resurrection—both Christ's and ours—Paul speaks of death being swallowed up in victory (nikos). He asks, "O Hades, where is your victory (nikos)" (1 Corinthians 15:55b)? He concludes his dissertation with a burst of praise to the Heavenly Father by saying, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ" (verses 56-57).
In his letter to the saints in Rome, Paul enumerated a whole host of obstacles a child of God may face in this world: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword. (From where does the modern "health and wealth gospel" of many televangelists come? Not from the word of God!) But while not denying the possibility of these things, Paul gives confident assurance to the people of God: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors (hupernikao=hyper-conquerors) through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:35-37). Paul's message is that through Christ the child of God is pre-eminently victorious over anything that the devil and his forces might throw at him!
The apostle John also used nike. He wrote: "And this is the victory (nike) that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4b). We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). We become children of God by faith when we are baptized into Christ and put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We are exhorted to take heed against developing "an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12). We are urged to "continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13). This belief, this faith is the means of our ultimate victory (nike)!
In a great passage detailing the kind of conflict in which Christians are engaged and the "tools" necessary for winning the conflict, Paul wrote: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (deceit, cunning devices, snares, traps) of the devil"(Ephesians 6:11). A few sentences later he identifies the various pieces of that suit of spiritual armor which we are to put on: waist girded with truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (verses 14-17).
Yes, Christians are in a battle in this world. Because of that, it is of utmost urgency that we be equipped for the conflict. But we can be assured of the final victory!
Do you have on your Nikes?
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