Napoleon's arch of Triumph. Magnificent!!! But, it has taken on new meaning since his defeat at Waterloo. It is a glory regulated to the past; something gone without real concrete meaning for those of us who are alive today. Monuments of stone are like that, set in stone, unable to change, relics at the moment of their creation. Genuine triumph is that which continues to endure through life. I like what the apostle Paul has to say about this in the book of Corinthians.
WEB: II Corinthians Chapter 2
[14] Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. [15] For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; [16] to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
WEB: II Corinthians Chapter 3
[1] Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? [2] You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; [3] being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. [4] Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; [5] not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; [6] who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. [7] But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: [8] won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? [9] For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. [10] For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. [11] For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
Triumph, real triumph is that which goes beyond the fading glory of a conqueror. It is the celebration of life that is found in communion with God; the change that occurs when mere man learns what life is all about from the creator of ALL things. Stones wear out, men die, but the heart united with its creator lives forever. Now, THAT is triumph!!!