"'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19, 20 NIV
Stepping up to the front of the room at the Bass Pro Marathon prerace devotional early yesterday morning, I looked out to see a group of runners ready to praise the Lord before setting out to run the race. Smiling as I felt the Spirit leading me to speak, I said these words to encourage them...
In 2018, 284 people crossed the finish line of the Bass Pro Marathon and 1,150 people completed the Cohick Half Marathon. Does anyone here know who won those events? Well Shane Etzenhouser and Michelle Andrew were the top male and female finishers for the full and James Wilson and Kimi Reed placed first in the half. So even if we did remember any of their names this year, will we remember them next year? How about 20 years from now? And upon researching who won the very first Bass Pro Marathon in 2007, I found there were 256 finishers with Becky Lowrance taking home the top female award and Matt Wegenka the top male award. But not only are these pioneers of the race no longer celebrated, their records have been broken many times providing further proof that nothing lasts forever.
Quite honestly, I ran the Bass Pro Marathon last year and if I hadn’t been a pacer would not have remembered my time. In fact, this year will make the 10th year to run this race and I don’t remember any of my times. Similarly, while the joy and excitement of completing the race today will be super intense for all of us for 24-48 hours just as it is with all races, the feelings will soon ebb off and we will be left with only memories that too will fade with time. My point is this…Most of the things that will happen today will be forgotten. The medals will eventually find their way into a box and the race shirts will wear out, be donated to charity, or simply be thrown away. But everything you and I do for the Lord today, serving Him by serving others, giving Him the glory for the strength in our legs and the air in our lungs and letting His light shine through us for all to see will be stored up as treasures in Heaven.
And this is the exact reason Jesus told us to not store up our treasures here on earth where moths will eat and rust will destroy them but to store our treasures in heaven where they will last forever. In other words, everything we acquire in this world will one day be reduced to rubble and everything we have done will be forgotten. But the things we have done for Jesus and in His Name will be remembered for eternity by a God who promises us eternal life for having put our faith and trust in Him. My friends Jesus knows our hearts and He knows our motives and has commanded us to love Him above all things. That means glorifying Him should be the reason behind everything that we do. Which ultimately means, as Christian athletes, we are not only to run the race to the best of our ability but to do it in His Name and for His glory.
So I want to end with this, In Colossians 3:23-24 we are given this command, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” So let us run the race today with our eyes fixed on the final finish line working to receive the ONLY reward that will last forever. And let us show the world by our speech and actions that Jesus Christ is our greatest treasure because as missionary C.T Studd said, "Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last."
Quite honestly, I ran the Bass Pro Marathon last year and if I hadn’t been a pacer would not have remembered my time. In fact, this year will make the 10th year to run this race and I don’t remember any of my times. Similarly, while the joy and excitement of completing the race today will be super intense for all of us for 24-48 hours just as it is with all races, the feelings will soon ebb off and we will be left with only memories that too will fade with time. My point is this…Most of the things that will happen today will be forgotten. The medals will eventually find their way into a box and the race shirts will wear out, be donated to charity, or simply be thrown away. But everything you and I do for the Lord today, serving Him by serving others, giving Him the glory for the strength in our legs and the air in our lungs and letting His light shine through us for all to see will be stored up as treasures in Heaven.
And this is the exact reason Jesus told us to not store up our treasures here on earth where moths will eat and rust will destroy them but to store our treasures in heaven where they will last forever. In other words, everything we acquire in this world will one day be reduced to rubble and everything we have done will be forgotten. But the things we have done for Jesus and in His Name will be remembered for eternity by a God who promises us eternal life for having put our faith and trust in Him. My friends Jesus knows our hearts and He knows our motives and has commanded us to love Him above all things. That means glorifying Him should be the reason behind everything that we do. Which ultimately means, as Christian athletes, we are not only to run the race to the best of our ability but to do it in His Name and for His glory.
So I want to end with this, In Colossians 3:23-24 we are given this command, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” So let us run the race today with our eyes fixed on the final finish line working to receive the ONLY reward that will last forever. And let us show the world by our speech and actions that Jesus Christ is our greatest treasure because as missionary C.T Studd said, "Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last."
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many lessons your Word teaches us. Help us to remember that only what we do for You and through You will matter when we reach our final resting place. With that in mind Lord, please give us a passion to serve You wholeheartedly and to work unceasingly to lead others to the foot of the Cross. Let us live each day to please You Lord. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
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