Preacher's Pen

As I write this sixty-four college basketball teams are making their way across the country to begin the NCAA basketball tournament. Every team fortunate enough to be in the tournament has the same dream: to win the national championship. String together six wins in a row and you're wearing the crown. They all know that, and they all want it. Yet by the time you read this most of those teams will have been sent home. In some ways it is sad to realize that as excited as all sixty four teams are now, sixty three are going to end their season on a losing note. You can only have one champion.

In the midst of all the non-stop tournament talk Dan Marino announced his retirement. Marino was easily one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. Yet in the midst of the accolades he received at retiring over and over friends, peers, and rivals had to say ""Even though he didn't win a Super Bowl . . . ."" Yes, Marino was great, but somehow it never worked out for him to wear a champions' ring.

I make no apology for using sports as illustrations of spiritual truths. Paul did in 1 Cor. 9:26 and 2 Tim. 4:8. The Hebrew writer knew sports as well (12:1). But there is a definitive and decisive difference in sports and Christianity. In sports there is one winner and everyone else is a loser. By definition, everyone cannot win. I thank God that Christianity is not like that. I do not compete against my brethren to try to gain one of sixty-four slots in heaven. I am not racing against other Christians to try to prove to God I am the most worthy for the champions' crown. In Christianity everyone really can win, and there need be no losers at all. Why? Because of God's great love and patience (2 Peter 3:9). Because of Christ's incredible sacrifice's power to draw all men (John 12:32). Because the Spirit's word is understandable to all (Eph. 3:3-5). I do intend to win the race set before me, but it will not be done at your expense or by pushing you down and trampling over you. I intend to win by the grace of God - and you can too. Let's run together, helping each other to gain ""the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who d His appearing"" (2 Timothy 4:8).