A Born Loser (Psalms 51:5)

“There are no losers, only winners!”

I politely listened to the coach of the children’s soccer league giving an encouraging speech to the young players of his team. It was typical of the contemporary philosophy of children’s team sports. Competition may lead to exclusion and has the potential for damaging psychological consequences that continue into adulthood. It is far better to emphasize the positive skills that one may learn from competition rather than crowning a winner and designating a loser.

There is a pathologic emphasis on winners and losers that is inculcated at a very young age and it is easy to lose a rational perspective. Yet the reality is life and the workplace are competitive and are very unkind to those who fail. We try our best but we must understand that not everyone will win. However, this does not give us a license to withdraw, falsely believing that everyone’s a winner.

The most important competition in which we all participate in is the battle for the eternal destiny of our souls. What happens when we die? The disturbing and uncomfortable truth is that we are all born losers. In this politically correct world we live, such a statement may bring a tumultuous avalanche of criticism and derision as an insensitive comment. The Bible is very clear on this Truth. We have lost because we are all sinners from birth and by our own efforts we cannot change our condition.

For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Psalms 51:5 (NLT)

We are born losers but we are not hopeless. God gives us the reason for hope.

…he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV)

We are born losers but we do not have to remain in this state. If we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will truly become a winner and receive eternal life and salvation. With Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors through Him who gave His life for all of us.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.