Back to: Fall Festival (4 Chapters)
Giant Snowballs and Gold Medals
When I was a kid, I dreamed of making the biggest snowball in the world. In my imagination, it would be so big, I would be the only one with snow still in my yard in the summer time. I had two things going against me. I didn’t understand science. Equally as bad, I gave up when the snowball became too heavy for me to push.
Olympic champions don’t give up like I did. They keep pushing and practicing and working. How do they keep going and never give up? They think about that gold medal. They think about the Olympic events coming soon and it gives them strength to keep going.
Today’s Bible reading tells us how to keep our eyes on the Big Prize when we’re following Jesus.
Hebrews 12: 1-3 Eyes on the Prize
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.
2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 He made it through these attacks by sinners. So think about him. Then you won’t get tired. You won’t lose hope.
NIrV Bible
Focus
Jesus is our great example. His dream was bigger than giant snowballs and gold medals. He was making a way for us to come to the Father. He went to the cross despite the pain and despite the shame. He dreamed of something that would last longer than Spring, or any treasures of this earth. Because of Him, we will live forever with Jesus in Heaven.