Tuesday
Aug122008
Imperishable Crown
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 I just have to share with
anyone who missed the Preview Service at Lions Park on Sunday, you
missed a real blessing! What an incredible service....the worship, the
message, the fellowship, the fantastic weather and, of course, 'good
eats'. God is moving at CenterPoint Church, and if you haven't had a
chance to join us up to this point, I would highly encourage you to
come on board and witness, enjoy, and participate in the growth of
CenterPoint. Prayers are being answered and we are witnessing even the
smallest details coming together. What a wonderful, awesome and mighty
God we serve!
As Pastor Dick continued in the Book of Nehemiah and went on to share thoughts and Scripture pertaining to rewards and crowns for God's faithful servants, later on I couldn't help but begin to connect some of those thoughts to the rewards and accomplishments that are being attained at the current summer Olympic Games in China. I must admit that I can become awe-struck by the physical abilities of the competing athletes. Of course, these accomplishments and medals are the result of years and years of unbelievable time commitments and arduous training. 1 Corinthians 9:26 states, "Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown". Athletes seem to push themselves longer and harder and farther than anyone else. They will strive to bring their minds and their bodies completely under control so they can excel and receive a prize. Many of us go home to relax, but athletes will continue to train. And, while most of us will try to protect ourselves from discomfort, athletes will push themselves to limits of endurance. They also often pay any price for excellence, and certainly would not consider anything labeled mediocre. Paul notes that despite their most valiant efforts, the athlete's success and prizes are eventually forgotten......a thing of the past. Even the very greatest of athlete's achievements have not affected eternity.
If
athletes can be so motivated to make incredible sacrifices for a
perishable reward, how much more should we as Christians strive for an
imperishable one? If athletes will labor day after day in order to
receive praise and glory from others, how much harder ought Christians
to work for the "well done" of their God? Think about these things:
are we training our bodies and striving to bring them into subjection
for the glory of God?......are we training our minds to think the
thoughts of God rather than the thoughts of the world? Then, are we
disciplining our lives in prayer? Are we studying and spending
sufficient time in God's Word so diligently that we are ready and
prepared to find answers for the challenges we continually face?
And, are we ready and prepared to share our faith? Looking back to the
imperishable crown talked about earlier, have we, as Christians,
prepared ourselves in order to qualify for that crown that awaits us?
While
the world views the accomplishments, goals attained and medals
won during the summer Olympics, I would guess they are awe-struck and
impressed with the incredible results of these athletic events. As
Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within each of us
which has a far greater ability to impact the world and offer the
greatest accomplishment by far, salvation won through Jesus' blood shed
on the cross.....the ability to obtain the imperishable crown.
Lives won and lived for Jesus are eternal victories!
"......NOW, THEY DO IT TO OBTAIN A PERISHABLE CROWN, BUT WE FOR AN
IMPERISHABLE CROWN"
1 CORINTHIANS 9:26IMPERISHABLE CROWN"
In Him, Sandy Erickson
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