Press on for Your Future Eternal Glory, Not Earthly Rewards

I know what it's like to win important games, and I know what it’s like to lose big games.

In a recent season, my team finished second in the regular season and went into the playoffs hoping to win it all. After a dramatic quarterfinal win, we faced the reigning champions in the semi-final. Down 1-0 in the last minutes of the match, one of our rookies scored to send us to overtime.

Still locked at 1-1 at the end of overtime, the game moved to penalty kicks, which put me as a goalie in the spotlight. In a storyline only God could write, I saved the first three penalty attempts. My teammates all scored, causing the sold-out crowd to erupt with cheers. We were going to the championship game! It was truly the stuff of a goalkeeper’s dreams.

A week later, we lost in the Championship match 1-0. After the wild high from the win, we felt the great disappointment of losing. To make matters worse, we had more opportunities to win, outshooting our opponent 26-9.

I kept replaying their goal in my head, frustrated that I missed a save I normally make. It was difficult to accept. All our hard work for the season culminated in a gut-wrenching second-place finish.

It’s been months since then, and I still wish the result could’ve been different. But, as a follower of Christ, I can have peace knowing that my life is not measured by how many championships I have won.

If my eyes are fixed on trophies, the race seems exhausting. Even after winning one, there’s always the next to chase. But if my eyes are fixed on Christ, I can persevere through whatever comes.

No earthly prize can compare to the glory we have in Christ Jesus. We are not competing for an earthly crown but a heavenly one.

Challenge:

• Take some time to reflect. Have you been chasing after earthly success or eternal glory?
• No matter what the answer is, how can you keep your eyes fixed on Christ?

Prayer:

"Father, help me to fix my eyes on You, not on all the earthly rewards, distractions, and conveniences. Give me the perseverance to finish the race, and to run in a way that gives you glory and points others to Christ."

Summary

The biblical story of Joseph has applications to the life of an athlete.

Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, had dreams of greatness and leadership as a young man. But his journey had hardships and setbacks. It is like an athlete's injuries or failures. He experienced bad calls and injustice. Despite the trials, Joseph trusted God, maintained his integrity, and continued to persevere.

Over time, Joseph’s faith and perseverance saw a reward. He rose to power and ultimately saved his family and many others from famine. Joseph understood that God was working, even when the path seemed unclear. Through it all, he gave glory to God.

Our prayer is that before, during, and after your competition, you will have a similar perspective. Keep God's word in front of you and focus your eyes on Him!

Next Steps

Athletes in Action has other plans dealing with sports. You can also use those plans to equip you for competition. You can find those plans on the AIA Connection page in the Bible App. Click the "Follow" button to receive notifications of new content.

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