Where Do You Stand?

Last night, I had the privilege as a coach to honor several of my track and field athletes at our school’s year-end Athletic Awards Night. Each coach was given ample time to share the details of their athletes’ accomplishments on and off the field. It was very impressive to hear about not only sports statistics and records but also about academic achievements, spiritual growth, and three salvations. By far the best speech of the night was delivered by the middle school football coach, Alex Good. It is well worth sharing here:

“What a tremendous opportunity it is to honor you guys for what you do on and off the field. For middle school, it’s tough…and it’s a challenge that I love. It’s an opportunity to walk alongside these kids and watch them grow. That’s the biggest thing. Regardless of their skill set and the things they can do on the field, the biggest thing I want them to see is somebody who’s living their life for the Lord. Because at the end of the day, the scoreboard is going to turn off, and that’s all that matters. For me, my goal is to be that example for them each and every single day. As a coach, I never talk about wins and losses. Because what does it really matter? That’s for the fans. For us, it’s about the growth - spiritually growing in our calling that the Lord has for us. Because there will come a day where you’re not going to have the opportunity to play, and if that’s the only thing that you stand on, then you’ll fall. I just want to encourage each and every athlete - regardless of where you are in your walk in life - always keep God first. He’s the foundation we have to stand on.”

It is so easy to make sports or any other endeavor in our lives an idol. God gave us bodies that can do amazing things, but those amazing things are intended to point us to our Creator and not to ourselves. When our bodies can no longer do the same amazing things, where do we stand? I sprinted my final 100-meter dash and threw my final shot put throw long before I planned to “retire” due to an injury that ended any chance of further competition. I was initially devastated, but it did not take long for me to realize that my worth had nothing to do with earning medals and plaques in track and field. Keith and Kristyn Getty sing it well in “My Worth Is Not In What I Own”:

“My worth is not in skill or name

In win or lose, in pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed

At the cross”

In what are you trusting for your worth? Upon what do you stand? What is the foundation of your life? Everything in this world will pass away, but the truth of the gospel remains forever. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27). Build your house on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. He cannot be shaken.