Running the winning course with God

On the first day of school last week, we attended the “Meet the Rattlers” event for Tucumcari’s fall athletes, including two of our

grandsons.

The program included a video promoting good sportsmanship, including by fans. I suspect that was appropriate because the event was likely attended by the most potentially rabid fans — parents and grandparents.

While the video was right on about good sportsmanship, it included statements that the main goal shouldn’t be to win. I agree with that philosophy only to an extent because it’s likely that insufficient effort to succeed at any venture will be set forth without some sort of tangible goal.

Regarding goal-setting, when it comes to running for some, like me, just crossing the finish line leads to personal satisfaction, but I never put forth enough effort to attain the “runner’s high.” My joy was in simply having it over with because my running experience was five laps around the football field, fully padded with helmet on and mouthpiece in, after a two-hour practice in 90% humidity (at least it wasn’t uphill both ways). That said, I recognized that running was necessary for being in shape to win football games.

Christians are to live to win recognizing that everyone doesn’t win (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46-49). Winning, in this case, though, is the crown of life awarded to everyone who competes according to God’s rules (Revelation 2:10; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Acts 2:38-39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; Romans 8:9-17).

So, when it comes to our salvation, we need not be the first or the best; we’re to just be the best we can be (Matthew 19:28-30; 10:1-28; Luke 14:7-11; Mark 14:1-9, especially verse 8; Ecclesiastes 9:10). Taking the back seat doesn’t mean allowing the other team to win or accepting a loss; it means realizing there’s only one front seat, like in a bobsled, and that belongs to Jesus (Philippians 2:4-11).

Additionally, when Christians compete in life, we’re not to look back to see how far ahead of the pack we are or to concentrate on our past successes, relying on them for future success or our failures, because every day or event is new (Philippians 3:7-16; 2:12-18; Luke 9 57-62; Hebrews 12:1-2). All we’re to remember is that we’re forgiven and the basis for that forgiveness (2 Peter 1:2-11; 1 John 2:5-9; Luke 9:23-26; 14:27; Matthew 10:38).

Regarding sportsmanship, Christians are to be the example wherever we are, including sporting events, to make the gospel of salvation attractive (Titus 2:1-10; Matthew 5:13-16; Galatians 5:16-25). So, let’s be good sports at the games. We don’t have to be happy with every call, but we should realize that missed calls also are part of the game, and they usually even out before the end of the season, if not before the clock runs out.

Are you running the course God laid out for everyone to become and live as a Christian? The rules are the same for everyone from start to finish (Matthew 28:18-20).

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]