NO BENCH, NO TIMEOUT and NO HALF TIME

(All scripture quotes from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)

The little fellow had on one of those shirts that detail some of the rules of dedicated athletes. Certainly you are familiar with these, in basketball they say "Take it to the hoop", Nike had the famous "Just do it" campaign. The little fellow in question (somewhere between ages 9 and 12) had a shirt on that screamed out that in his game there was "No bench; No time out; and No half time". It makes me tired just thinking of it. I immediately thought there must be a lesson for those of us living the Christian life, after reflection I learn there are many. Lets look for and find a few in an effort to build up our Christian life.

FIRST, The fact is clear-Christianity is like a race- "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). This does not bring much quick encouragement to us when we know in a race there can only be one winner! Yet the text is designed to give long term, sustaining encouragement-this makes since as we remember the deeper context of Hebrews (written to encourage Christians that are beginning to weaken).

This beautiful text goes on to give several great lessons to the Christian desiring to successfully run the race. We are told to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,". It is easy to picture runners on a track. They endeavor to find the lightest shoes, and clothing in order to win. Imagine if they had a huge back pack, say 60 pounds or so, it would guarantee instant defeat! What about you and I that continue to try living the Christan life with that huge pack of sins that we continue to carry around? Certain defeat is no less inevitable.


Second, How should you and I run? Hebrews dictates that we "Run with patience". Like wise Paul states the obvious by reminding that there can be only one winner in every race. He goes on to declare that we need to run "That ye may obtain.", that is that you may win. Thus you and I must run so that we win!

Third, the prize goes to the winner. Jesus reminds "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give ever man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12). Think how harsh, yet how real. The Christian life is a race, there are no second place finishes allowed and the Lord only rewards the winner! Thus we each need to live our Christian life in the model of the young man's shirt "No bench, No timeout and No half time. Christian, there are no second place trophies to be given on judgement day.

EPILOGUE
Truth has been told, No second place trophies are awarded. Yet, one noted Christian stalwart, Peter gives us encouragement to get up if we have fallen by the wayside and once again be a faithful runner. Peter strongly denied the Lord (Luke 22) even refusing to be named among the Lord's followers, yet he later becomes an ardent defender of Jesus the Christ. There is indeed room on the race track for you, come on, get up and get back in the race before it is over.