By David A. Sargent
The 2014 Winter Olympics recently ended with the
host country, Russia, winning the medal count. Russia won 13
golds and 33 total medals, becoming the first Winter Olympic host
nation to lead gold- and total-medal counts since Norway in
1952. The country has celebrated the victories of their
medalists and recently congratulated them with more than just the
honor of earning the medals.
On Thursday, February 27, Russian Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev handed out keys to a fleet of white Mercedes-Benz
cars to 44 of the Russian medalists next to Red Square in
Moscow. Three different classes of cars were offered for the
three medal colors. Each of the cars was adorned with the
Russian Olympic Team logo.
What about the medal-winning athletes like figure
skating champions Yuliya Lipnitskaya (age 15) and Adelina Sotnikova
(age 17), who are under the minimum driving age of 18 (in
Russia)? According to the Associated Press, those without
licenses also received a paid-for driver.
These Olympic athletes received more than nice
new cars. The cars came on top of cash prizes. Gold medalists
received $120,000, silver medalists $76,000 and bronze medalists
$52,000, according to R-Sport. *
Yet all of the medals and the additional prizes
cannot compare with the “reward” that is promised for faithful
followers of Christ…
Against the backdrop of Olympic-like games in
Greece, the Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth: “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). James also wrote
about the crown that awaits the faithful child of God: “Blessed is
the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the
test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him” (James 1:12). The “crown” is the reward of
eternal life for those who follow Jesus!
The differences between the “crown of life” and
Olympic medals (and all of the accolades and prizes that accompany
the medals) are many. The main difference is: we cannot EARN
the crown of life. The crown of life is received, not
achieved. In fact, the basis of receiving the crown of life is
not our flawless performance. That’s wonderful news because
“ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). Each of us has fallen many more times than any figure
skater – Olympic or otherwise! Just because our “performance”
may be better than others doesn’t earn the crown for us either.
The basis of receiving the crown of life is not
our performance but what Someone else did for us. Despite our
“falls” (our sins), God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus
to die on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Through His
death on the cross on our behalf, Jesus paid the price for our
redemption (Ephesians 1:7). Then three days later, He rose
from the grave achieving victory over sin, Satan, and death!
To share in the victory of Christ and receive the
crown of life, we must place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts
16:30-31), turn from our sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into
Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as
we continue to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) and follow Him
faithfully (not flawlessly), He will continue to cleanse us from all
sin (1 John 1:7) and, one day, give to us the crown of life (READ 2
Timothy 4:6-8).
The crown of life is worth far more than any
“medals” this world has to offer. Jesus died so that you might
receive this crown.
Our response should be to seek to please the One
who DIED for us so that we might LIVE eternally!
Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms?
Source:
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood
in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional
entitled Living Water." To learn more about this excellent
resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
* Information gleaned from “Russian Olympic Medalists Receive Luxury
Cars” by Nick Zaccardi of NBCsports.com
The following fable portrays how we might feel if
we could see into heaven for an instant:
A boy had a sister who was dying. He heard that if he could secure a
leaf from the tree of life in heaven, she would be healed. So he
approached the gate of glory and made his desire known to an angel.
The celestial being suggested to the boy that even if his sister
would be healed he could not guarantee she would never again be
sick, suffer disappointment, or go through trials. Just then the
angel deliberately opened the gate a little wider so the youngster
could see inside. He could scarcely believe his eyes! Everything was
wonderful and beautiful beyond description. After thinking for a
moment, eh exclaimed, "Forget the leaf! May I come in with her?"
I would not have you grieve for me today
Source:
Jackson Church of Christ, Jackson, MO, date unknown.
By David A. Sargent
The state of Idaho has discovered that it
is easier to take a mansion than it is to give it back, reports John
Miller.
The hilltop mansion was built by J.R.
Simplot, potato magnate who became a billionaire by building a
corporation that supplied McDonald’s with its golden French-fries.
Simplot, who died in 2008 at age 99, gave the mansion to the state
of Idaho back in 2004. The mansion was given to the state to serve
as a residence for the governor of Idaho. But the current governor
doesn’t want to live in it!
A public hearing began this week to discuss
what to do with the mansion. Thus far, the majority of people
who have spoken recommend either selling the place or returning it
to the Simplot family.
But the family doesn’t want it...
"The family's position hasn't changed,"
said David Cuoio, a Simplot spokesman, on Wednesday, referring to an
earlier statement. "J.R.'s home was given to the state with the
understanding that it would be used as the governor's house."
Meanwhile, the state of Idaho is spending thousands of dollars to
maintain the empty mansion.
Imagine that: an unwanted mansion!
But there IS a “mansion” that is infinitely
better than the Simplot mansion that everyone should want to
inherit, not only because of its beauty, but also because of the One
who has made it possible for EACH of us to inherit it.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, once comforted his
troubled disciples with these words:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you
believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many
mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may
be also.” – John 14:1-3
The word “mansions” in this text literally
means dwellings or abiding places. In other words, Jesus was
declaring that He was preparing a “room” in His Father’s house
(Heaven) for each of them!
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared
people.
Sin will keep us out of heaven (cf.
Revelation 21:8). In fact, sin places us on the road to
destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). But God loves us so much that He gave
His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross so that we might have the
forgiveness of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life in
heaven (John 3:16).
When Jesus told His disciples about their
“mansion” in heaven, He said, “And where I go you know, and the way
you know” (John 14:4). Thomas, one of His disciples, said:
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the
way?” Jesus answered: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:5-6).
Jesus IS the Way to heaven. We
“access” the Way by placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts
16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) into Christ so that our sins can be washed away (Acts
2:38).
Won’t YOU accept God’s offer of salvation
from eternal destruction so that you may enjoy eternal life in
heaven?
Source:
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood
in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional
entitled Living Water." To learn more about this excellent
resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
* Information gleaned from “Idaho Discovers It’s Tough to Return a
Mansion” by John Miller of the Associated Press.
Johnny was gazing at his one-day old brother who lay
yelling in his crib. "Has he come from heaven?" asked Johnny.
"Yes, dear."
"No wonder they put him out."
Source:
Unknown
