Watching premier athletes in their prime compete is an incredible experience. The game they participate in seems to bear little resemblance to games I know and enjoy. Every once in awhile I have the opportunity to observe things up close and I always come away stunned. The dedication to get to this level of competition is beyond comprehension. The developed personal abilities extend beyond anything anyone ever imagined. Behind the scenes you find someone wanting win; wanting this beyond anything that you or I can imagine.
I wonder at times how badly I want to win. Last night I discovered at the annual Ashlock/Barrack men versus women battle of the year “pictionary” game that our desire was strong, far stronger than it had been in prior years. As a result we won! But I wonder if we have what it takes to win again.
The challenge is direct. How does one win when there are so many distractions? Is it possible to train relentlessly when every fiber in your body is screaming for something else? Can one stay focused 24×7?
The challenge only heightens when one trains and maintains in faith. How do you relentlessly pursue something that most people cannot see and touch? Is it easier to reach out to something that is a process versus a destination? How do you win in a relationship?
God gives us the blunt warning. “The mouth of a whore is a bottomless pit; you’ll fall in that pit if you’re on the outs with God.” (Proverbs 22.14) I do not sense any emotional reaction to something someone has done; rather God is stating things bluntly, honestly, and in love because he understands what is at stake. I wonder: do you or I know what is at stake?
We played a great game last night and there were winners and losers; yet the process of playing made us all winners. You and I are involved in a game where the stakes are life itself! God has already won everything. We have a standing offer. Do you want to win?
