CHAMPIONS

My dad was one of the greatest story tellers of all time.  My two sisters and I would curl up on his bed Saturday nights to listen to "The Champions," his ongoing saga of three tough, athletic cowgirls.  Because he was a macho kind of guy the location of these beloved tales was the Wild West where life demanded self- discipline, endurance, and stamina to survive in the hostile frontier.  According to these tall tales we were skilled in everything from bronc riding, trick roping, bulldogging, sharpshooting and card-playing.  When all this got boring our mission was to bring law and order to a land over run with bandits, rescue the unfortunate traveler from the death grip of quicksand, save the towns payroll money from train robbers, and sing "Home on the Range" as we brought the villains to justice. There were no co- starring roles in these stories. Somehow in his wisdom, wit, and skill he was able to spotlight each one of us giving individual "Star" status by the end of each episode.

Unlike my dad's stories where we were given the expertise needed to win each challenge, life demands we work hard to develop the necessary skills to live well and finish strong.  There are no free rides on the way to life's finish line.    

The bible uses an interesting analogy to demonstrate the life of a real champion. The Apostle Paul tells us to view our time on earth like we are athletes preparing for a contest.  This championship is so important we need to spend our days in a Boxing Ring or Gymnasium, doing whatever it takes to stay in shape.  Each one of us is a competitor and there is an eternal prize waiting for each contestant that crosses the finish line.  "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize?  So run your race that you may win the prize."

Paul is not talking about winning salvation, which is a free gift and secure for each believer, he is encouraging us to stay focused and alert.  The enemy of our soul will try to distract us from our divine purpose, knocking us out by making us comfortable and lazy. Training must become a daily event where we push ourselves to reach the next level of spiritual growth.  Flabby Christianity just wont cut it if we intend to make it to the end. Each of us must develop self-control, perseverance, and staying power because the road to victory is long and hard. In this race we are not competing with each other, we are told to focus on our own faults and failures. We are God's champions, his elite athletes, called out from among the masses to live strong lives, free from sin.

We are champions. Run to win.
Scripture reading 1 Corinthians 9:24-27