"...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of the Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."
-Philippians 2: 13-16

The Greatest Winning Streak

I love sports! It seems as if I always have. I can remember even at a young age rooting for my favorite teams, the Boston Celtics in basketball, the Miami Dolphins in football, and the Cincinnati Reds in baseball. I would play sports for hours, by myself or with friends, either just competing against each other, or trying to imitate the great players or the great teams. Nowadays my children play this same way. There is nothing wrong with sports or in striving to be the best that we can be. The evangelist, Paul, writes in 1st Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." We should always strive to be our best, to go for the top prize. But we need to understand what the 'prize' is. "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. (1st Corinthians 9: 25) The ultimate prize, or crown, is not something this world can offer. For the things of this world will fade away. But the 'crown of life and salvation' lasts forever. That is the crown we should pursue. "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9: 26-27) Understand the purpose that we all have when competing to be the best we can be. The prize we seek is not of this earth, but is of God. If we keep this perspective then all of our striving, training, and competing will not be in vain.

America loves a winner! We admire and praise successful teams in sports. I did a little research on winning streaks in my two favorite sports, football and basketball. In football the New England Patriots won a record 21 straight games in 2003-2004. In Division 1 college football Oklahoma University once won 47 straight games from 1953-1957. Mount Union, a Division III school, won 54 straight games from 1991-2004. In high school football, De La Salle in California won 151 straight games from 1991-2004. In Basketball, the NBA's Bulls once won 44 straight home games, in college basketball UCLA had an 88 game winning streak, and in high school basketball Passaic High in New Jersey once won 159 straight games from 1919-1925. All of these streaks are incredible in their own right and all are the result of the efforts of winners. I love a winner, too! His name is Jesus Christ. With His crucifixion in A.D. 33, Jesus won a victory for us all. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1st Corinthians 15: 55-57) By my count, Jesus' resurrection occurred around 1,973 years ago. A winning streak that has been going on now for 720,145 days and counting, through all of eternity! Who is going to match that streak? I do love a winner. Thank you, Jesus

There is nothing wrong with sports and competition. Just keep in mind what the greatest reward is...and the fact that no reward offered by this world comes close to it. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
(Revelation 22: 12) The greatest reward is found in Jesus. As we struggle to pursue this reward we will stumble and fall along the way. But always get back up to compete for another day! More good advice from Paul: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3: 13-14) Always strive to be your best, to be a winner for God. If you stumble and fall shake it off and get back into the game. Press on toward the goal and someday you too will be with Christ and a part of the greatest winning streak ever! Amen!

Take a moment and encourage someone this week!

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
-Revelation 22: 12

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