More than Conquerors!

Elite athletes in two major sports are in Houston this weekend. As you follow the media coverage, remember this analogy…the PGA and the NCAA preaches a sermon by contrast. The pool of potential golfers is huge, but the field for the Shell Houston Open is only a select few of the very best professionals. The NCAA began March Madness with 68 teams invited to participate, but only 4 teams will be at the “Big Dance” at Reliant Stadium this weekend. Golfers on the links and players on the hardwood earned the right to their respective events by their performance. While the Houston Open and the Final Four are foundationally sports competitions, the PGA and the NCAA are also multi-million dollar businesses. Every aspect of these events is performance driven. By contrast, the choice to serve God is grace oriented. The performance is God’s work for us, especially in Christ’s atonement for our sin on the cross. Our choice is to receive His grace or to participate in His “tournament”. Spiritual victory is not reserved for only a few elite world-class athletes. Triumph over the enemy, Satan, is in your personal relationship with Christ. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 The victor in any sporting event is unknown until after earned by performance. The winning team will cut down the nets and celebrate only after the horn sounds at the end of the game. It is only after the 18th hole that a champion is crowned. The victory for you spiritually is already assured. Choose today to be on Christ’s triumphant team!