RUNNING WHEN IT HURTS: Part 2

When Paul was facing his pain God did not leave Paul to “walk it off” so to speak. Instead of taking away Paul’s pain, God gave Paul his grace. He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” What did God mean by that? God would give Paul the power to overcome his pain.

            Grace is an interesting word. It can mean to conduct oneself in a composed and appropriate way; to be graceful. For example; she descended the stairs with grace and dignity. Or he conducted the meeting with grace. On a much more profound level it refers to the unmerited favor of God. Steward Briscoe defined grace this way. Mercy is not receiving the punishment you deserve. Grace is receiving the benefits you don’t deserve. When God told Paul that His grace would be sufficient He was saying that He would provide the resources that Paul didn’t have to meet the challenge Paul was facing. As Paul trusted that grace he could then conduct himself in an appropriate, God-honoring way.

            By trusting God in the face of his pain, the power of God was demonstrated in Paul’s life. It was evident to all around Paul that his ability to handle the pain came from outside of himself. Paul became a living example of the grace of God at work. Instead of being bitter he could rejoice. Instead of giving up the race he was able to keep on running.

            Derek Redmond had a dream of winning an Olympic gold medal. At the age of 19 he had shattered the British 400 meter record. His dream was put on hold when just 10 minutes before the start of the 400 meter race at the 1988 games in Seoul he had to withdraw due to an Achilles tendon injury. Five surgeries and much rehab later he was ready to compete at the 1992 games in Barcelona.

            The day came for the preliminaries for the 400 meters. The top four runners from the two semi-final heats would advance to the finals and compete for the gold. Derek was confident as he approached the starting line. The race went well for Derek and it looked like he would easily qualify for the finals. With 175 meters left to go Derek heard a loud pop then stumbled. Grabbing his leg began hopping toward the finish line. Then he fell to the track in pain. The medical staff rushed to assist him but he pushed them away. He was determined to finish the race. Suddenly a figure came running out of the stands. It was his father Jim. Jim helped Derek to his feet, and then with his arm slung across his father’s shoulders, they made their way to the finish line.

            What a powerful image of the grace of God. When we stumble and fall, when pain immobilizes us, our Father comes to pick us up. By His strength we are able to continue the race. The pain may not be gone, but the power to overcome is there. All we have to do is lean on Him.

            God always gives us what we need to handle the pain. The thing we need more than anything else is His presence. Throughout the scriptures God repeats a promise to all who face the struggles and hardships of life. I will be with you. When Abraham left his home and headed for the Promised Land God assured him I will go with you. When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt God promised him I will be with you. When Joshua stood on the shore of the Jordan River God promised him I will be with you. And when Jesus’ disciples faced the challenge of building the church Jesus promised I will be with you even to the end of the age. God has not gone back on His promise. When we find ourselves headed into the storm Jesus assures us I will be with you.

RUNNING WHEN IT HURTS: Part 1

"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!"

“Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder.”

-Les Brown

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

            One of the things that every runner has to contend with is the aches and pains that come with the sport. Sometimes it comes in the form of a side ache. Most of us can remember what those are like from running the mile in gym class. Somewhere during your second time around the track you would get a cramp in your side. All you wanted to do was stop because it hurt so badly. But the gym teacher always had a stock answer for those who tried to give up. Do you remember it? Walk it off. It was the same answer I got from my track coach at the beginning of the season. Coach I’ve got a side cramp. Walk it off Banfield. Just walk it off.

            I cannot remember the last time I had a genuine side ache when running. That doesn’t mean that I am pain free though. Instead I feel the pain in a number of other places. Before I start my run I feel it in my legs as I stretch out. Every muscle is tight and wants to stay that way. They protest loudly as I stretch each one. Once I am on the trail the pain moves to my knees. As my foot pounds down on the blacktop path the shock is registered in my knees. But the real pain comes later, after the run is done and I have cooled down. I sit in the chair to read or watch a little TV. I am lulled into as false sense of well-being, which quickly dissipates when I try to stand up. At that point my back, my hips and my legs all complain at the same time. Some people ask me if you experience that much pain, why do you keep running? Because it makes me feel so good, I reply.

            Pain is a part of life. We would all like to live pain free, but that is unlikely to happen. We can expect to encounter pain all along the journey of life. It will come in the form of physical pain. Most of the time it will be mild like a headache or a stubbed toe. It may come as a major crisis like a heart attack or cancer. No one gets through life without facing some kind of physical pain. It will also come in the form of emotional pain. Often emotional pain is far more difficult to deal with. Physical pain is mostly external but emotional pain sinks deeply into our soul. The real question is not if we will face pain in our life. It is how we will handle the pain that we will encounter along the way.

            Paul was no stranger to pain. During his race he had to face pain time and again. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-29 Paul expounds on his many difficulties along the way. “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” Paul faced both physical and emotional pain, yet he kept running.

            In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul used his pain to teach us about how to approach our struggles. On this occasion he was referring to a physical ailment that he does not identify. He spoke of how he pleaded with God to take this pain away from him. I have always found this passage strangely intriguing. We know from the book of Acts that God had given Paul the ability to heal people. Yet on this occasion God chose not to heal Paul. More about that in a moment. First let’s deal with the reality that Paul was not immune from pain and suffering.

            There is a popular view today that if a person is really in tune with God he or she will never be sick of face any major difficulties. This is just not true. Paul, one of God’s most influential servants, faced a variety of painful experiences during his race. If Paul was not exempt from suffering then we should not expect to be.

            What did Paul do when confronted with pain? Did he whine and complain? Did he stop running the race? No, he took his pain to God. The passage tells us that he prayed three times for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh”. In fact he pleaded his case before God. Paul took his situation seriously and went to the one place where he could receive help. Paul was living out what he had often taught others to do. Paul instructed the Philippians to do exactly what he was doing. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)  

            When we feel the pain of the race the first thing we need to do is take it to God. Unfortunately this is often the last thing we do. We tend to exhaust all our other options first. Our tendency is to try to handle it ourselves. Sometimes this only makes the situation worse.

            Dirk had little time for doctors. When his wife suggested that he have a physical he brushed the idea aside. I’m in great shape. I don’t need to see a doctor. The problem was that Dirk was not in great shape. He had been experiencing some discomfort in his chest whenever he exerted himself. He ignored it, rationalizing that everyone has small aches and pains as they get older. One night, as he sat down to watch TV, a massive pain slammed him in the chest. He slumped in his chair, unconscious. He awoke the next day to find himself in the intensive care unit of the local hospital.

            In the race of life, when we choose to ignore the pains that come our way we set ourselves up for a fall. God has given us pain as an early warning system of danger. We ignore it at our peril. This is true of both physical and emotional pain. Pain of any kind should lead us to the Great Physician.

            Paul took his pain to God. What he discovered was that God doesn’t always take our pain away. At first this must have been a surprise to Paul. He had witnessed the healing power of God firsthand. He knew that God could heal him. He desired for God to heal him, but God said no. Paul was willing to trust God even if the pain was not removed.

            God does not spare us from all pain in life. I think we would all be amazed if we knew just how much pain God does protect us from. There have been many times when I know God stepped in to protect me from some pain, but he doesn’t always do that. God does not remove all pain in life. Sometimes God has a higher purpose for our pain. He may or may not reveal that purpose to us. We need to learn to trust him.

            Terry was a member of my youth group. He was a typical, energetic 13 year old boy. On one occasion I took the youth on a weekend camping trip. For dinner we had some fresh cherries. I warned the kids not to eat too many of them because of the potential consequences. Terry ate more than his share that night. About midnight I heard a rustle and looked out to see Terry sprinting for the bathroom.

            Terry was fun and full of life. He was also full of something else, cancer. Terry spent a little over a year waging a valiant battle with his deadly enemy. We prayed earnestly for Terry that God would heal him. I visited him several times while he spent time in the hospital. There were signs of progress and we all hoped for the best. Then I received the call that Terry had lost his battle.

            I performed Terry’s funeral. Through bitter tears I tried to give some comfort to his grieving family. I was angry and disappointed with God. Why would he let a 13 year old die? I still have no answers, but I know that that experience of pain had a profound effect on my life. I have walked that same path with many families since that time. I have learned to walk with genuine empathy. 

CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

                What does it mean for us to be created in the image of God? Usually when we think of the word “image” we think of the outward appearance of something. Obviously God was not referring to our physical appearance when he said let us make man in our image. If that were so we should all look alike, but we do not. Besides, God is spirit and does not reside in a physical body. So He must have been thinking of something else. To find the answer to our question we need to look past our outward appearance to what is on the inside of us. I don’t mean our internal organs. I mean our soul.

                The primary way that we are created in the image of God is that we have an eternal soul. We were created to live forever. Because of sin our lifespan on this earth has limits, but our soul does not. The Bible tells us that when our physical body dies our soul survives and enters eternity. Because we have been created with a soul that is shaped in the image of God we have been blessed with some qualities unique to humanity. Each of these are expressions of the image of God in us.

                One of the things that sets us apart from the rest of creation is our ability to think and reason. We are able to take in information and process it in a variety of ways. We can reflect upon the past and learn from it. By storing information from the past we can build a data base that allows us to progress. We are not limited to doing the same things over and over. We have the capacity to analyze information and change our behavior accordingly.

                We can think about the future. The future is an abstract concept. It does not yet exist, yet we can visualize what it might be. Even the fact that we realize there is a future reflects the image of God. Our ability to think in abstract terms allows us to think about God.

                We have the ability to make choices that are adjusted to our circumstances and our needs. We are not controlled by the survival instinct alone. We can choose to make sacrifices now in order to attain a greater good in the future. We can even choose to disregard our safety for the sake of others.

                We have the ability to learn new things. We can learn new skills. We can learn new applications of information.

               

                 We also reflect the image of God by our ability to be creative. God has given to us the ability to take the raw materials of this world and create new and beforehand unknown things. 100 years ago who could have imaged the internet or an IPad? Yet they are a reality today because God has given us the ability to be creative.

                This ability was demonstrated from the very beginning. Genesis 2:18-20 (NIV)
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

                God gave the task of naming all of the animals to Adam. I cannot even imagine how Adam did that, yet he did. He was reflecting the image of God. In fact scientists carry on Adam’s legacy today. When they find a new organism they name it.

                There are many ways that we exhibit this aspect of the image of God. Some people do it through music. Although some animals have songs, no animal has the breadth and variety of music that humans do. For all other animals songs are functional; mating or warning. For humans music is transformational. We attended a band concert the other night. The variety of instruments in a concert band reflects the creativity of God and the uniqueness of humanity. I have never seen an animal play a French horn or a flute.

                Some people are gifted in art of various forms. Art is an expression of the creative image of God. Art serves no purpose in the survival and propagation of the human race, yet it enhances and enriches it. It can take the form of painting, sculpting, or forming things out of clay and other materials. Animals do not paint pictures or create statues, but we do.

                Some demonstrate the gift of creativity through writing. Writing combines our ability to think and reason with our creative nature to produce something that did not exist before. We can create a world that is totally different from anything we know. For example; the worlds of Middle Earth from the pen of JRR Tolkien and Narnia from the pen of CS Lewis. There is a wealth of stories, both short and long, fiction and non-fiction that express the breadth and depth of our creative possibilities in writing.

                Some of us are creative in practical ways, such as architecture or making furniture. How many animals do you know live in a three story brick house and sleep on a four poster bed with night stands at the side? In all of creation humanity is unique because of our ability to be creative.

                One of the most amazing ways that we reflect the image of God is our ability to feel and express emotions. Animals seem to demonstrate this quality on a very simple level, but only humans have a breadth of emotions. An example is our ability to love. This comes directly from God. 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

                We can feel love, hate, anger, frustration, joy, delight, sorrow, happiness and the list can go on. Not only do we feel these emotions but we can express them in both words and actions. We are, at our core, emotional beings, even when we try to hide it. All of these emotions come directly from God. We don’t often think of God as having emotions, yet if we look closely at the Bible we will discover that He does. Not only does God express love, He also expresses anger, delight, joy, frustration and more.

                The greatest reflection of the image of God is our ability to enter into relationships with other people and with God. If you notice carefully, Genesis 1: 26 says “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” “Our” is a plural word. For all of eternity God has existed in perfect community; Father, Son and Spirit. When God created us he did it with the understanding that we too would live in community. First we are to live in community with God and then with one another.

                When Jesus was asked what the most important command was he answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 (NIV)

                Animals may live in herds or family groups but they don’t live in community like we do. They may interact with the members of their group but they don’t develop genuine relationships like we do. They may communicate basic information to one another but they do not communicate the depth of information we do. A wolf or a monkey may be able to express fear but not sadness over the loss of a friend. The whole concept of friendship is a human quality not matched in the rest of creation. We are unique in our ability to develop meaningful relationships.

                There is much more to being created in the image of God, but I hope this has raised your awareness of just how unique you are. As we approach Thanksgiving take some time to celebrate that you are created in the image of God. Reflect upon your life and then express your gratitude to God. 

COMPETITION: Part 3

Paul told the Galatians that once they had tested themselves they were free from the comparison game. Knowing who God created us to be and then living that out is the most freeing thing we can do. God has gifted each of us in unique ways. When we discover our unique makeup and live within those boundaries we are energized.

            When we compete against ourselves we are free to become who God created us to be. The problem with comparing ourselves with others is that we let them dictate who we become. Growing up we all let peer pressure shape our lives. We find our sense of value and worth by comparing ourselves to others. I am a better athlete than she is. I am a better student than he is. I am more attractive than they are. Instead of discovering our unique qualities we strive to prove ourselves against some external standard.

            Growing up in the church being a missionary was held up as the highest form of service to God. If you were an exceptional Christian you became a missionary. If you were a good Christian you went into some kind of “full-time ministry” like being a pastor. If you were just an average Christian you showed up on Sunday and supported those who were really committed. This message was never overtly stated in this way, but it was definitely communicated to an impressionable young boy. When I felt the call of God on my life I automatically assumed it meant missionary service. Without confiding this information in anyone else I set my sights on becoming a missionary. I determined that I would do this by becoming a Medical Technician and working in a hospital in Haiti. I spent six years of my life actively pursuing that goal. Along the way God kept whispering in my ear that maybe my gifts were in a different area. I pushed those promptings aside because I was going to be a missionary with a capital “M”. It wasn’t until I was in seminary that God finally broke through and redirected my course. I finally began to accept the person God created me to be instead of trying to be the person I thought others expected me to be. My journey turned from duty to delight.

            Fully accepting the gifts, talents and interests that God has hard-wired into us is the first step to true freedom. As you journey through life you will encounter people who are more gifted than you are and less gifted than you are. Your value as a person is not dependent upon how you compare to those people. Your value is measured by the person God created you to be. Instead of seeing others as the competition, view them as fellow travelers on the same journey. You are free to celebrate their gifts as well as your own. When we stop comparing ourselves to others then we are truly free to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and to mourn with those who mourn”.

            There is another benefit to competing with ourselves rather than others. We are free to ask for help from others. One of the greatest fears people have today is to be viewed as weak or powerless. To admit a need makes us feel vulnerable. That can be a very scary place to be. Consequently we guard ourselves against showing any weakness. Instead of asking for help we adopt a “do-it-yourself” mentality.

            There was a severe car accident on a bridge over a river. A car had crashed through the railing and was hanging over the edge. The driver of the car, a young woman, was pinned in the front seat. A truck driver rushed to the car, attached a toe-rope to the frame and secured it to the other side of the bridge. Soon the emergency people arrived but they were unable to reach the young woman. They had to call for a crane to come and lift the car back unto the bridge deck. Finally, with the use of the Jaws of Life, they freed the woman from the car. Afterward one of the emergency workers commented, “It was the strangest thing. The whole time we are working to rescue that woman she kept repeating I can do it myself.”

            The Bible tells us that we cannot do it ourselves. The journey of life is not a solo journey but a community adventure. Each of us needs the other to be successful along the way. All of us need help from time to time. If we are secure in our identity in Christ we are free to ask for the help we need. James 5:16 tells us, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  

            Finally when we compete against ourselves we are free to offer help to others. My major in college was biology. Most of my classmates were “pre-med”. That meant that they had their sights set on going to medical school. Getting into medical school is very competitive. Only about 40% of applicants are accepted each year. Because of the very competitive nature of medical school acceptance many of my classmates were reluctant to help other students who were struggling. They were not free to help others succeed. They were afraid someone else’s success would threaten their own.

            This competitive spirit is alive and well within the church. Churches compete against other churches for pride of place. Believers compete against other believers to prove how spiritual they are. Some are reluctant to help others to develop their spiritual gifts and talents because it might threaten their place within the spiritual community. They give lip service to encouraging one another while they let others struggle and fail. Thankfully this is not always the case. Many successful churches have realized that they have a responsibility to help other churches succeed. Many mature believers willingly give of their time and wisdom to help young believers grow in their faith.

            The root cause of a negative, competitive spirit is pride. By nature we like to compare ourselves to those who are “not as good” as we are. This makes us feel better about who we are. But it is a false sense of well-being. Pride is a trap that sets us up to fail. Proverbs 16:18 makes that very clear. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

            Paul talks about a different kind of pride: pride born not out of comparison to others but born out of a realistic understanding of ourselves.  The more secure I am with the gifts and talents that God has given me the freer I am to extend help to others. When I help others use their gifts to their fullest potential the whole body of Christ benefits. I am not threatened by their success, I am energized by it. By helping others grow in their faith my faith is strengthened. Unlike in the world of medical school there is room for everyone to succeed on this journey of faith.

            At least on the surface it looks like we live in a world where it is ok to just get by. Many people are willing to settle for something less than their best as long as they can maintain their position in the race. Two men were backpacking in the wilderness when they came upon a grizzly bear. Upon seeing the two hikers the bear rose up on his hind legs and roared. One of the hikers quickly took off his pack and pulled out a pair of tennis shoes. As he frantically tore off his heavy boots the other hiker declared, you will never outrun that bear. I don’t have to outrun the bear, he replied. I just have to outrun you. That is the way many people view life. There is a better way.

            In the race of life the only measure that matters is the progress I am making toward becoming more like Christ. I am running against myself and no one else. When I get to the finish line it will not matter how I did compared to the other runners. What will matter is if my master declares, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

COMPETITION: Part 2

Every successful corporate body is guided by an overarching vision. This is true of businesses and churches. The vision becomes the measuring stick against which success is measured. Groups work very hard to craft a meaningful and compelling vision. But once the vision is established something else happens. It is called vision drift. Unless the vision is constantly revisited the group, over time, will drift off center and away from the vision.

            All of us are subject to spiritual vision drift. As followers of Jesus our ultimate goal is to conform to his image. We want to become more and more like Christ. Jesus summed up this vision in Luke 10:27. "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This vision is worked out in the great commission. We are to invite people into a relationship with Jesus and then help them to grow in that relationship. In our heads we affirm this lofty vision, but in our everyday lives we live out something else.

            Vision drift leads us off course to places we didn’t intend to go. We begin to believe that the real goal of the Christian life is to be happy and have all my needs met. We begin to glory in the gifts and talents that God has given us and forget about the giver. Instead of using these gifts for God’s glory, we use them to increase our status and influence. As a church we begin to measure our success by the size of our building and the number of people who attend our programs. The idea of inviting people to become genuine followers of Jesus is gently pushed into the shadows. There are many other ways that we experience spiritual vision drift. The important point is to recognize when it is happening and correct it.

            Paul told the Galatians to do an honest self-evaluation. “Each one should test his own actions.” When I worked as a lab tech in the hospital one of the tests I had to run was blood gasses. It was a very important test and so the results needed to be accurate. In order to assure the accuracy of the results I had to calibrate the machine using a known standard. Once the standard was establish I could trust the results. God has given us an accurate standard against which we can test the actions of our life. It is found in the Bible. The Bible is like a spiritual X-ray machine that has the power to reveal what is below the surface. It takes courage to submit ourselves to the revealing power of God’s Word. God doesn’t put spin on our reality to make it more positive. God holds up the X-ray and shows us exactly what is there.

            In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul writes to his young apprentice about the power of God’s Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Our lives are not measured against what others are doing. Our lives are measured against the ultimate standard of God. The Bible is not just another book of wisdom and knowledge. The Bible contains, reveals, and unlocks the life of God. We cannot experience a significant relationship with God without the Bible. The Bible teaches us what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. It reveals to us the sin and rebellion that are so deeply imbedded in our lives. It shows us how to turn away from sin and toward God. It gives us the tools to live truly godly lives.

            We all need to conduct regular self-exams to guard against spiritual drift. This is more than just a five minute scripture reading on our way out of the door. If we want to stay on course we need to spend time absorbing God’s word. Then we need to let God’s word shape our thoughts and our actions. When our thoughts and actions come into conflict with God’s Word we need to have the courage to face reality. Failing to face reality will have serious consequences.

            There is great freedom in having an accurate view of ourselves. Comparing ourselves to others can become a very confining experience. The 1981 movie Chariots of Fire is the true story of two British track athletes, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell. Both were selected to run for Great Britain in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Liddell was a committed Christian and ran for the glory of God. He had once remarked to his sister, “God has made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure.” Abrahams was obsessed with being the very best. His life was nothing if he was not better than the best in the world. Both men won gold medals in their individual races at the Olympics. Liddell was able to celebrate his victory and move on. Abrahams was undone by his victory. His whole life was wrapped up in winning the gold medal. Once he had achieved that goal he felt hollow.

            That is the way it is when we compare ourselves to others. The thrill of the victory quickly fades as we realize that it is only fleeting. There is always someone who will work even harder than we do to be better than we are. Being the best at anything lasts for a fleeting moment. But you can always be your best.

COMPETITION: Part 1

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.
Try to be better than yourself.
--William Faulkner

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Sam Mussabini

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

 Galatians 6:3-5 (NIV)

            Running is a simple sport. It requires very little equipment. All that you need is a good pair of running shoes, shorts, a T-shirt and a watch. Every run begins with the click of the watch.

            My standard training run is a four-mile course. After I have stretched to loosen up the old muscles, I start the timer on my watch and take off. Because I have run this course so often I know where all the ½ mile and mile markers are. As I pass each one I glance down at my watch to see how I am doing. It tells me if I am slow, fast or on pace. My goal is to gradually improve my time. Every time I run I am running against the clock.

            There are several annual runs in our community that I participate in. These runs are of various lengths over different courses. Usually at these races there are a hand-full of pretty serious runners. The rest of us are there for the experience. Before I start a race I determine a time that I am shooting for. For example, in my first ½ marathon I set a goal of finishing in two and a half hours. So when the gun goes off I click my watch and start running. As I pass each mile marker I check my watch to see how I am doing. I don’t gauge my race by the runners around me, but by the time on my watch. I like to start near the front of the pack. My adrenaline is pumping so I don’t like feeling trapped in the middle of the crowd. Very quickly the faster runners pass me. I know that if I increase my pace to keep up with them I will not have enough energy to finish the race. Instead I let them go by. At the end of the race it doesn’t matter how many runners finished ahead of me. What matters is if I reached my goal.

            Competition is a big part of running. It allows us to test ourselves against others. When it is kept in its proper perspective it is a good thing. Competition challenges us to push our limits. It motivates us to work hard. It actually helps us achieve more than we thought was possible. But when it becomes all about winning it can distort our perspective.

            In the race of life the only person that we need to compete against is the one we see staring back at us in the mirror. We can use others to motivate us to strive harder, but at the end of the day the question is did I meet my goal. A wise Rabbi once said, “When I get to heaven God is not going to ask me why I wasn’t Moses. He is going to ask me why I wasn’t me.”

            Paul gives us some great insights into running against our personal clock. He begins by telling us to take a good look in the mirror. Many of us have a distorted view of ourselves. Our tendency is to view ourselves in a more positive light than is warranted, although at times we see ourselves more negatively than we should. We tend to overlook our faults and focus only on our perceived strengths. Paul warns us against developing an inflated view of ourselves.

            Arthur was a gifted runner. He had been blessed with stamina and power that allowed him to excel in long distance races. Throughout High School he was a star on the cross-country and track teams. Although he didn’t win every race, he was consistently among the top runners. After High School Arthur went on to college. As happens to all of us, life got busy and running took a back seat in his life. A couple of years later some friends challenged him to run in the Chicago Marathon. He thought, why not? I can do this. So he pulled out his running shoes and started preparing. His training wasn’t as consistent as he would have liked but he reasoned that he was still in good enough shape to make a good showing. He set a goal of finishing in less than 3 hours and 10 minutes, which would qualify him for the Boston Marathon. The competitive fires that he had felt in High School began to burn bright. He started talking boldly about what he would do in the marathon. The day of the race found him filled with excitement and only a little apprehension. He had never run a marathon before. All went well at the beginning of the race. He quickly settled into his pace and was feeling good. He even began to think he could do better than his goal. He passed mile 20 tired but in good spirits. At mile 23 his legs cramped, forcing him to stop. He walked the last 3 miles of the race. He finished the race in 3 hours and 45 minutes; a great time but well short of his goal.

            When we develop an inflated view of ourselves we set ourselves up for failure. Natural talent and giftedness can take us only so far. Without a regular reality check we soon discover that we have run out of steam. Just as this is true in the physical realm of our lives, it is ever truer in the spiritual realm. Paul warned the Galatians that thinking they were more spiritually mature than they actually were was very dangerous.

            Throughout my years of ministry I have often had to face a spiritual reality check. This usually occurred following an extended period of outward success. I would begin to feel very comfortable with my spiritual leadership and then I would hit a wall. God would do something to make me take a more realistic view of myself.

            There are several warning signs that should alert us to an inflated self-image. The first is the feeling that I cannot fail. Like the runner who arrogantly announces that he will win every race, we begin to believe that whatever we do will be successful. We don’t consider failure to be a possibility, let alone an option. We begin to buy into the lie that we are too big or too important to fail. The twin sister to the feeling that I cannot fail is the feeling that I am better than everyone else. My opinions are worth more. My actions are of greater significance. I desire to be honored as the best. Underlying both of these warning signs is the warning sign of denial. We strongly deny anything that threatens our false sense of reality. As one comedian put it, I reject your reality and assert my own. When we are challenged with information that makes us face reality we get angry and fight back. Paul says that when we yield to ego inflation the only person we are deceiving is ourselves.

            One of the ways that we can guard our hearts against ego inflation is to engage with a small group of trusted friends. A true friend is someone who will hold up the mirror of reality with love and grace. They don’t do it to tear us down, but ultimately to make us stronger. Like a good coach, they can point out our weak spots and help us move in a new direction.

            When I began my ministry as a solo pastor I knew that I was going to be in trouble if I tried to go it alone. I began to pray for God to reveal to me a couple of men who could both encourage me and hold me accountable. He gave me two men who agreed to meet with me on a weekly basis. It took a little time for the three of us to develop an appropriate level of trust. We had to get to know one another on more than just a superficial level. Once trust was established we were able to talk about all aspects of life. Through the years these men have supported and challenged me. They have not been afraid to tell me when I was off base or unrealistic. They have been one of my greatest assets on this journey of life. 

Is There Room in the Middle for Me?

HOW SECURE IS SALVATION?

                A question that often arises is, “Can a person lose their salvation?” That is an important question to consider. The way that we answer that question will shape our relationship with Christ. On the one end of the spectrum is the perspective that, yes, a person can lose their salvation. If this is taken to an extreme, it leads to a life lived in fear and anxiety.  On the other end of the spectrum is the perspective that, no, a person cannot lose their salvation. If this is taken to the extreme, it leads to an apathetic life. I believe that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. I believe that once a person is saved they cannot lose their salvation. I also believe that how we live our lives matters to God. We are not free to live however we wish and expect God’s grace to cover our sins. So let’s take a look at a few scriptures that can guide us on this exploration.

                There is a powerful passage in John 10 that speaks to this issue. Jesus refers to those who are his true disciples as his sheep. This is what he says. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. [John 10:27-29 (NIV)]

                Jesus declares that those who are his disciples are given eternal life and they shall never perish. When a person puts their faith in Christ they are infused with the very life of God. That life is never ending. A true believer cannot perish. Jesus was not talking about physical life but of spiritual. This physical life is temporary and will come to an end. Our life in Christ will not. Now here is the significant image that Jesus gives us, which speaks to our security in him. He says it twice so that we won’t miss it. He says that no one can snatch them out of his hand. He takes it one step farther and says no one can snatch them out of his Father’s hand. Then verse 30 says “I and the Father are one.”

                I have three children. When they were young, whenever we were in a public place, I made them hold my hand. I did it for their safety and security. Sometimes they would want to chase after something and so they would try to let go of my hand, but I would tighten my grip. Their safety was not dependent upon the strength of their grip but of mine.

                This is the image that Jesus is using here. We are saved by God’s grace and we are held secure by God’s grace. The security of my salvation is not dependent upon the strength of my hold on God, but of His hold on me. In fact, we are held doubly secure by the Father and the Son. It is like a child walking between his parents, with each parent holding a hand. The child may try to escape but his chances are slim. We are held secure in the firm and sure grip of our Lord and Savior.

                There is another passage that speaks to the security of our salvation. It is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! This passage speaks of the transformation that takes place when a person puts their faith in Christ. Paul tells us that we are recreated in Christ. Our old nature is taken away and replaced with a new nature.

                We are all familiar with the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The caterpillar begins life as a fat, slug-like creature that is confined to crawling on the plants as it seeks food. At the right time the caterpillar attaches itself to a branch of a plant and encases itself in a fine silk robe. For a time it seems like nothing is happening. The fine silk is battered by the elements and become dull and dirty. Then one day the case splits open and out emerges something very different, a butterfly. It has a slender body with delicate legs and beautiful wings. Within minutes the butterfly is airborne and experiencing a whole new life. There has never been a case where a butterfly has turned back into a caterpillar. It is impossible. The old is gone and the new has come.

                So it is with our spiritual transformation. We still must battle the effects of sin. We still struggle to do what is right. But an inner transformation has taken place that cannot be reversed. We have been given a new heart. In the book of Ezekiel, God promises to remove our heart of stone and give us a new heart of flesh.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. [Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)]

                Let’s look at one more passage that speaks of the security of our salvation. This passage also speaks to the importance of what we do with our lives. Christ gives us eternal life, but he also calls us to make the most of our life here on earth. Paul writes about that in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

                By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

                Paul teaches us a couple of very important truths. First, once the foundation of faith is laid it is secure. Because we are saved by grace and not by our works, the foundation of our lives is guaranteed by God. He is the Master Craftsman who built a perfect foundation for each one of us. Second, we are expected to build upon that foundation. In fact we spend our lives building. Every action, every decision, every word combine to create our spiritual house. When we respond to God’s leading and faithfully follow His direction, we build with enduring materials. When we choose to go our own way, we build with temporary materials. On the Day of Judgment our spiritual house will be put to the test. All that is enduring will survive and all that is temporary with disappear. I’m afraid most of us will have some major holes in our structure. The good news is that even if it all collapses the foundation will remain.

                We dare not take these truths for granted. How we live our lives matters to God. God wants to use us to further His Kingdom and His glory in our world. We only have a short time to do that. Every day counts in light of eternity. God values what we do so much that Jesus promised that He will reward us for our faithful service. When we presume upon God’s grace we forfeit the rewards God has planned for us.

                Someone pictured it this way. When we get to heaven Jesus is going to take us to a special room set aside for us. In that room will be a large table and upon that table will be many gifts. He will bring us to the table and joyfully present us with our rewards. Also in that room will be a series of shelves that are out of our reach. Upon those shelves will be sealed boxes. Out of curiosity will we ask Jesus what is in those boxes? He will reply, “Those are the rewards you could have had.” It is a fanciful way of looking at heaven, but it makes the point.
                For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. [2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)]

                There is one last thought I must interject at this point. Jesus does not want us to live in fear. In fact Jesus came to deliver us from fear. One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is “do not be afraid.” When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, through faith, we experience his love and grace. His love is perfect and 1 John 4:18 tells us that perfect love drives out fear. If we are living under a cloud of fear that we might lose our salvation then we are not experiencing Jesus’ perfect love.

                The Scriptures teach us that we cannot work for our salvation; it is a gift from God. Therefore I believe we also cannot work ourselves out of our salvation. Yet we are responsible to work within our salvation to the glory of God.

                Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. [Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)]