"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."
Counting the cost
Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33One of the great heresies of the modern world is the so called “prosperity gospel”, a belief that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for his followers.
Contrast that with the words of Jesus about the need to be willing to give up everything in order to be his disciple. Elsewhere in the same chapter, Jesus says: “whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”. There is a cost to following Jesus.
Following Jesus brings great rewards in this life and the promise of life with him forever. But it does not guarantee success – on the track or in life.
Before the 2011 Athletics World Championship, I attended a church service along with some athletes. The pastor discovered that one of the athletes was running a distance race that night and called him to the front, prayed for him, told him that he was going win because he was running in the name of Jesus. Mo Farah won the race, as he usually did in that era, leaving the athlete confused by the promises of the pastor.
Jesus promises us forgiveness of sins and eternal life but he does not promise us success on the track, riches or guaranteed good health. He also promises to be with us always.
Rest on the promises of Jesus – just make sure they are based on his words as recorded in the Bible.