Striving

I don’t know about you, but my family and I have been keeping up with the Beijing Olympics. Whether it’s watching Michael Phelps swim for his 8^th gold or seeing Shawn Johnson’s flawless gymnastics performance on the balance beam, I stand in awe of the world’s greatest competitors. I cannot even imagine the time and preparation it must take to compete at such a level. I see the tiny Chinese girls flipping through the air and the muscular Jamaicans running faster than I could ever dream. But isn’t that the point—to go beyond your dreams; beyond what is humanly possible? To do something the world will remember you for? Perfection? Of course it is. No matter what nation you come from or what religion, the ultimate goal is the same; perfection.

What is perfection? Is it possible? Ask any athlete if they have achieved complete and total perfection and I can guarantee that they will say “no” (well, if they don’t say “no,” they are lying…). But why? Because perfection is impossible for everyone… except Christ. Christ stands alone on the Gold-Medal Podium and no one else even comes close.

So why compete? Shouldn’t we all just give up and go about our pitiful little lives as the “spiritual losers” we really are? NO! Christ is our example. He gives us something to strive towards, something worth fighting for. He gives us hope for something beyond our lives and a dream and vision to chase after with all of our hearts. He gives us the coaching we need to get through all of life’s hurtles. He gives us something worth remembering; something perfect. It’s worth fighting for. Are you willing to fight for it?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since 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.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 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 a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

(more verses: James 5:11, Hebrews 10:36, 2 Peter 1:6, Romans 5:3-4)