MAKE IT COUNT

GOD’S Bob September 23, 2020

MAKE IT COUNT

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing” (1 Corinthians 9:25-26 NLT).

You have heard the exhortation to “make it count” which correlates with giving it your all on each and every step. The average life expectancy for a male in the USA is approximately 77 years. Women’s life expectancy is higher but to be conservative with our numbers we will use the men’s number. That is 28,015 days or 674,520 hours and then 40,471,200 minutes. And, if you are an avid counter, then that comes to 2,428,272,000 seconds (billions). So, depending where you are along your trek on earth, you better make the rest of this time count.

The verse today tells us that just as athletes need to be purposeful in every step in their disciplined training, so should we be in our drive for that eternal prize. Spiritual growth has to be purposeful. We do not know how many days are left in that countdown of numbers alluded to earlier. My next breath may be my las……………………………ok...sorry…my warped sense of humor surfaced there. The point being, that every step in our journey on this earth with Jesus has to be taken with purpose. MAKE IT COUNT!!!

In that purpose must be discipline. To be who God wants me/us to be, we must deny self. That training athlete denies certain foods and habits to condition their bodies for athletic endeavor. We must deny ourselves in being who God wants us to be. We have to follow God’s plan for us…..for me. It will be different amongst us. You know you have heard no pain no gain….well in the same vain being a disciplined disciple of Jesus means sometimes the path will be difficult. Harder the work…bigger the risk….bigger the reward. MAKE IT COUNT!!!

Have you thought of what Olympic runners or swimmers give up to go for the gold medal. I know swimmers are in the pool at least 6-8 hours EVERY day of the year. These athletes go to bed at a certain time. As mentioned earlier, they have a special diet. They must train in certain settings. They are denying themselves many things. They count the cost. They MAKE IT COUNT!!!

Paul writes in the verse today that the steps have to be with purpose. That is how we finish the race God’s plan has laid out for us. Do not be tempted by what many try to do and that is take shortcuts. Stay on the straight and narrow path and commit to be a better child of God today than you were yesterday. Always head up, eye on the prize, pressing on towards the goal. Never forget, etch it in your brain, the purpose God has called you to. Also, more importantly, never forget the example of Jesus. He is the ultimate champion. He used His time on this earth for God’s glory and was not distracted by the things of this world. His known ministry was approximately the last 3-3.5 years of His life. Think about what all He did. He made every second, minute, hour, day and year count.

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” –Dietrich Bonhoffer