Run for an eternal reward

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NIV

In a feel-good story published by ABC13News on Tuesday, it was reported that Connor Brown, who despite having four podium finishes and is considered to be one of the best distance runners in the state in 1A, left without a single medal according to Swain head coach Ian Roper. Instead, his bounty hung from the neck of teammate JoJo Bjerkness.“To see a kid like Connor who's worked hard all season, who put himself in a position to be the conference runner of the year, and had worked so hard to get to that point and then turn around and see JoJo looking for his medal and just selflessly say, 'Hey you can have mine,'" Roper trailed off. "Not going to lie, it brought a tear to my eye. Bjerkness is a member of the Maroon Devils track team who lives with Down Syndrome. He goes through the workouts and competes in the meets.” “He was over there, he was over there looking for medals - Coach Chatham was handing them out - and he was looking for his," explained Brown. "He got a bunch of PRs and I just thought he deserved a little something. All the hard work, all the winning - it's nothing without having guys like JoJo," said Brown. "I may not remember every race, but I'll remember JoJo the rest of my life." And I have no doubt that JoJo will remember Connor Brown the rest of his life as well.

I don't know about you but I just love that story. What I love about it most though is that young Connor already learned something that most people who have lived a lifetime never do.... at the end of the day, people matter more than possessions. Yet the majority of us work to reap temporal rewards rather than eternal ones. You see, just as Connor so wisely alluded to, people will never remember our finish times, what races we ran, or what trophies we won which are only crowns “that will not last.” But they will remember our acts of kindness and selfless service; acts that could cause them to accept Christ as their Savior reaping eternal rewards and crowns "that will last forever."  

So knowing the impact our every day actions can have on those around us, let us love others in ways that show the love of Jesus my friend. Let us love people more than our possessions remembering that people are the only thing we can take with us to heaven. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us what it means to love people more than possessions by leaving all the treasures heaven had to offer to come to this world with nothing to die for "people" who didn't love you back. Lord, help us to love others in this same way so that they would see the love of You in us and be inspired to come to the foot of the Cross. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!