10. Choose God…
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 15;18-19
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
Submit yourself, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:7-8
Returning for a moment to the Olympic gold winners, Torvill and Dean, who scored a perfect 10 at the Sarajevo Olympics in 1984. I recently read an article about their journey to that point. One thing stood out – their absolute dedication to what they were doing: Preparing for the ‘84 Olympics was a lifestyle. The goal was to be the best we could. (The West Australian, February 15th 2014)
They practised every day but Sundays and even on Christmas Day. Their career as ice skaters led to them giving up their “day jobs” to be able to concentrate full time on the routines that would lead to Olympic gold. They constantly had to make choices in order to gain what they desired.
We all have choices to make every day but, in particular, Christians need to which race they are in, who will reward them at the end of the race – the world or God:
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.
1 Corinthians 9:25
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
It is important to note that Torvill and Dean gave up much to pursue Olympic gold but it was not forced upon them. They had a dream, a purpose to fulfil and so they willingly submitted to what needed to be done to get there. Paul talks of this journey in his address to the Ephesians elders:
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given me…
Acts 20:24
We are not talking of a life of drudgery and hard work where every day we wonder what we are doing here but of a journey towards a magnificent goal – that of completing the plan God has for us. He is saying to us:
Gold, Gold, Gold. Dance with me and you will reap the heavenly rewards I have for you. My dance requires commitment, dedication, practise. You have been set aside for the dance that will sweep across the world like a breath of fresh air bringing joy, peace, comfort, salvation to the world.
Prayer: Lord, my desire, my dream, my purpose is to fulfil the plan you have for me. Give me the strength to pursue that plan regardless of what the cost may be so that I can claim my crown of life at the end of the journey.
Amen
Action: Today, take a long hard look at your life. Where are you going? Are you on track for the prize, the reward, the crown of life God has for you? What do you need to give up? What do you need to begin? Make the decision to persevere and finish the race so that you can stand with Paul in saying:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:7
Journal your thoughts:
