Front Row Seat
By Pastor Eric
I’m sure many of you got a chance to watch some of the 2024 summer Olympics like I did. Although I wasn’t able to just sit for hours watching the games unfold, I did get to catch some of it here and there. One of the strange things about the Olympics in Paris was the time delay. We would watch the games here in the states but the actual events themselves had already happened.
Like the rest of the world, I was watching the US women’s gymnastics team compete in their team event. Unfortunately, I had seen in the news that morning that the US women’s team had already won gold. But as I watched the women take the floor (in the replay of the event), I still felt pessimistic about their chances to win! Every slip and every misstep caused anxiety as they seemed to fall behind Brazil and Italy. I found myself wondering, “can they even pull this off…what are the chances?” The competition was so very tough, each country bringing some very talented gymnasts. “There’s no way they can hold on to win gold!” Even though I knew, from the morning news, that the US would win! I just couldn’t seem to find peace in the knowledge that they would actually pull it off as I watched it unfold.
As Christians, do we sometimes fall into this same way of thinking? We know the ending–because we believe the truth of God’s word. We know that Jesus Christ will return again, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” Hebrews 9:28. We also stand on the promise that because of Jesus’ work on the cross and our faith in him, that we will be saved and spared from eternal judgment, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8. Through the gifts of salvation and grace, believers can rest assured of our place in heaven, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” Philippians 3:20-21.
We also know that at Jesus’ return all things will be restored and made new, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” Revelation 21:1-2. As Christ-followers, we don’t have to worry about the final outcome–we know how it will end! God has victory over the enemy, the competition is defeated and destroyed! God has the final word, bringing his victory to all who trust and believe in him. He will restore all things and dwell among his people in peace and unity forever, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” Revelation 21:4-5.
Life is not easy and in many cases it’s filled with pain, hurt, frustration, and disappointment. We have all been there, and many of us are going through those times right now. I don’t want to minimize these situations and circumstances, they are real and tough. But, brothers and sisters, find peace in the knowledge that God has a plan for this world, for you and me, an eternal plan of wholeness, love, unity, peace, and eternal life togther with him.
We know the score and the outcome of the game! God wins, he has victory, and so do you! Live today with peace and hope in your hearts knowing that we “win gold”, through Jesus Christ! God loves you so very much, he is there in your hardest times, greatest struggles, and he is faithful in his promises!
“ But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Cor. 15:57