As I sit here at the Penguins game, I recall a message that God gave me several years ago. Just after the Steelers won the 2005 Super Bowl, I was downtown at work and went out to be part of the big parade. Tens of thousands celebrating this incredible win covered the streets. The team finally came past, raising the Lombardi Trophy and the crowd was exaltant. The next day the parade was all over the front pages of the news. And the following day, nothing.
God gave me to see how fleeting are the trophies of this world. All season e team strives for this victory, the city prayed and cheered to get there. Then, when the prize was won..the fiat settled and nothing remained by to try and hope again. But, not so with the trophy God offers us.
“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
God promises us an eternal ‘trophy’, His crown of righteousness, that once awarded is forever our prize.
Ever since that day, though I still love watching football and hockey, that thought always comes to mind. No trophy of this world will matter. As Casting Crowns sings in the song “Only Jesus”, “All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won will crumble into dust when it’s said and done.” The only victory that counts is Jesus’ victory on the cross and the victory we obtain through Him.
This, I guess is the only participation trophy that matters as well. Though it won’t say “participant” on our crown, it will say “saint” when He places it on our head.
Nothing can ever take away that crown, and the news in Heaven will never cease to carry the victory as front page headlines – I guess, might be the only news.
So, I continue to strive for this crown, with a long road to travel and all uphill, I know that it is Christ Who will carry me across the finish line and that my victory speech will be me simply pointing at Jesus and saying ““Jesus I trust in You” and I owe it all to You, I want to thank the Father for making this all possible and the Holy Spirit for lifting me up each time I fell. Oh and I can never forget my Blessed Mother, without your intercession this dream would have been so much more difficult.”
Look at the goals of your life. Are they centered on Jesus and eternity? Don’t live for the moment, as the wall outside St John Paul II’s boyhood home says, “time flies, eternity awaits”
“All the gifts that the world could bring .. all th gold, all the gifts – a you a lord are better than all these things. Your love is better than life – you are the well that won’t run dry. I have tasted tasted and I have seen”
Set your eyes on the only prize that will matter – your crown of righteousness. Settle for nothing less. And if the workout seems too hard at times or you feel ‘not good enough’ to be a saint, remember God the Father created you to be a saint and He doesn’t make mistakes. So trust God to be God and carry you through to the finish line. And along the way, tell somebody about what Jesus is doing for you.