Just Let Go

I loved playing sports when I was younger. It did not matter what it was, I just wanted to play. I can remember the excitement of tryouts. Doing everything that I could do to impress the coaches so I could get a spot on the team. And, I got the same feeling every time a game rolled around. I would get nervous. I knew that the beginning of the game usually sets the tone for the rest of the game. I always wanted to do my best to get my team out to an early lead, and let that carry us through to a victory in the end. I remember what a lot of my coaches would tell us at the beginning of the game. They would tell us to "Just let go, and leave it all on the field/court."

Now, I am the coach. And I get just as excited about the game now, as I did when I was younger. And I find that I tell my athletes the same thing. Just let go. Drop all fear and anxiousness and go for the prize at the end. Leave everything on the field, never surrender, and success will find you inspite of the outcome. Is this not a parallel to our Christian walk?

Philippians 3:13-14
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

We have not yet tasted what life eternal will be yet. However, we keep striving towards that goal. We do not need to live our lives based on the sins of our past. When we become saved we are a new creation. The old is gone and we have put on the new in Christ Jesus. We need to live a life of praise for what Christ did for us on the Cross at Calvary. We need to go through everyday looking to what we will get one day when we meet our Savior face to face. No matter what fears, anxiety, trials we face, we look toward the goal. Which is eternal life with our Savior in Heaven. Paul wrote to Timothy just before he died:

2 Timothy 4:6-8
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Thanks for reading, and God bless you all this week!