A Winner’s Faith

September 22, 2024

Dr. Paul Cannings

I remember years ago, while in college, playing in a soccer tournament in Louisiana (the home of the Saints, who showed no respect this past Sunday). We had several games; the last match was in hot, humid weather. Towards the end of the last game, my legs were totally fatigued; I was literally running on fumes. Because we made it to the championship game, I somehow found the strength to keep playing. Paul teaches us why he endured so much suffering (beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, false accusations) was because he saw the prize (He saw the third heavens; 2 Corinthians 12:2) that made him write “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) He would tell us not to grow weary in well-doing and miss our season (Galatians 6:9-10). As we can see in Revelation, we all have access to the prizes: the white garments (Revelation 3:4-5; 4:4; 6:11, 7:9, 13), share His throne (James 1:12; Revelation 3:11), rule over angels and have access to the holy City of Jerusalem (Revelation 22). The question is, how did he find strength so that he can “do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). Every athlete who participated in the Olympics went through rigorous training to develop what was already in their bodies so that they function to the best of their capacity. The scriptures teach us that we have “all spiritual blessings” (Ephesians 1:3-4), we have the Holy Spirit in us (Ephesians 3:16), and Christ dwells in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17).  By using everyone’s spiritual gifts in the local church we can all grow up to the fullness of God (Ephesians 4:12-13) and comprehend all the Lord is teaching us (Ephesians 3:18-19). This is why we can work out our salvation because of He who lives in us (Philippians 2:12-13) because Christ richly lives powerfully in us, blessing us to overcome the sinful influences of the flesh (Romans 8:9-17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:15-18). So, we all have the capacity to win the prizes God has in store for us because we can all become just like Christ (Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:21-25). It all depends on whether we are willing to discipline ourselves, like Olympic athletes, because we, at the point of salvation, have the Holy Spirit fully in us to transform us so that we can even overcome the attacks of the devil (1 John 4:4) even if these attacks are like fiery darts (Ephesians 6:10-18). When life’s trials seem overwhelming, and you feel like you are running on fumes, remember that when we accept these trials, God’s perfecting work (James 1:2-4) blesses us to keep on pressing towards the mark.  It is in our weakness that we find our true strength, for as Paul said,  “in our weakness, we will become strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).