February 19, 2018 (Monday)
At any given moment during the Super Bowl, there were 24 people playing the game, and thousands of people in the stands. Beyond the stadium, millions watched those 24 players on television.
The Winter Olympics, however, sport different numbers. There are 2,952 players from 92 countries playing the games. They represent the best of the best athletes around the world. The worst thing that can happen to one of them is being put on the sidelines and unable to participate. The best thing each of them wants is a gold medal.
The Apostle Paul gave us a good analogy to these winter games in South Korea in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV), “.. [S]ince we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
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” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV).
When he approached the end of his life on earth, he declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).
What about you? Are you a “Spectator?” Or are you a “Team Member?” The choice is yours. Jesus invites you to be on His team: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 NIV).
The song, “When We See Christ,” reminds us, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.” The writer must have had Paul’s words in mind: “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8 NIV).
by Esther Kerr Rusthoi
1941
Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.
Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We’re tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray’r.
Refrain
Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past,
We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n – a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.
Refrain