It's
Road Rally Time
Read: 1 Corinthians 9:23-27
Do
you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ‑ 1
Corinthians 9:24
One
of the fun fellowship activities our congregation sponsors each and
every year is the Road Rally (all right, almost every year ‑
sorry). It's a great time of teamwork and competition, crowned with
a party at the end for all the participants. Just as in Paul's words
above, the Road Rally has only one winning entry. The rest of us
were there, all right: driving, navigating, trivializing, figuring,
kibitzing, et cetera‑ing, but only one vehicle can win the
Rally.
This
is a pretty discouraging picture of the Christian life, don't you
think? I mean, here's Paul telling us all to run the race in such a
way as to win it, but ‑ oh, by the way, only one can win, and
I'm running my legs off ‑ see you at the finish line,
Corinthians!
Of
course, that's not what he's really saying there. After all, Paul
tells us in Ephesians that nothing we do can get us that reward: For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that
no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)
What
does that mean in his race metaphor, then? Here's what I think.
When we are baptized, we are baptized into Christ; when we are
confirmed (or join by confession of faith), we confirm our acceptance
of Christ's finished work for us. This means that when God looks at
me, He doesn't see Charlie, He sees Jesus. When He watches me
running the race, He doesn't see Charlie stumbling all over the
place, He sees Jesus running the perfect race; He sees me win!
Sure,
I can't drive myself into first place, but I'm already in the winning
car! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in our Lord, Jesus
Christ! Amen.
Charlie
van Becelaere
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