August 25, 2015 (Tuesday)
Contests are a way of life for many people these days. Football is back on every level and people get excited about it, whether it is high school, college or professional. Soccer is making inroads into the national consciousness. Baseball season is still in full swing and the Astros are back in the game this year. The photo below shows my daughter, Dianna, rooting for the home team recently. Sports of all kinds have the attention of their fans. Contests are popular.
The Apostle Paul spoke of “running the race.” His references to sports events were illustrations of the main race on his mind–the race of life. He wrote, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)
He also said, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26 NIV). As he prepared to die, he declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).We are urged by the Lord to do our best, and keep thinking about tomorrow as a golden opportunity to continue the race. May our attitude toward life and serving the Lord be like that of Paul. He never gave up. Instead he vowed, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:14 NIV).
Let us sing with Hale Reever, who composed this song in 1965 (last verse):
I will never have a fear, for my Lord is ever near,
And in Him so often I confide,
He’s the keeper of my soul since I gave Him full control,
And He placed me on the winning side.