But as Christians and athletes, we need to remember that there is a greater victory that transcends all earthly competitions in this life. A victory that is not based on our performance, but on Christ’s. A victory that is not temporary, but eternal. A victory that is not ours, but His.
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
– Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We are all under the power of sin and death, and we cannot save ourselves. We are all losers in the ultimate sense.
But God, in His great love and mercy, sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again from the dead. He defeated sin and death on our behalf, and He offers us forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift. He won the victory for us, and He shares it with us. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).
This is the true victory in Christ. It is not something we earn, but something we receive by faith. It is not something we boast about, but something we thank God for. It is not something we keep to ourselves, but something we must share with others.
As we participate in sports, we can enjoy the thrill of competition, the joy of teamwork, and the satisfaction of improvement. We can use our gifts and talents to glorify God and serve others. We can also honor God with our attitudes, actions, and words.
But we should never forget that our ultimate identity and worth are not found in our sports achievements, but in our relationship with Christ. We should never let our sports successes or failures define us, but rather let Christ’s victory shape us. We should never lose sight of the eternal prize that awaits us in heaven, where we will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).
Let us run the race of life with endurance, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let us live for His glory, not our own. Let us celebrate His victory, not ours. Let us share His message.
For the true victory in Christ is not about us and our sports achievements and championships, but about Him. With this as our focus, we connect God to our sport and honor Him in all we do.
