Remember the movie Chariots of Fire? In it, just before the first turn in a 400-meter race, Eric Liddell was shoved off balance, and he stumbled onto the infield grass. When he looked, he saw the others pulling away. With a look of intense determination, Eric jumped to his feet, and with his back cocked and his arms flailing he rushed ahead. He was determined not only to catch up with the pack but to win. And he did!

That was a true story from real life history. And that was the kind of fervor that the apostle Paul brought to his ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 he said, “Do not you know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

You are striving for the gold! If you get pushed aside and fall behind, get back up, get determined, and go get the prize!

Tags: commitment, determination, race

Several centuries ago the troops of the Spanish military commander, Cortez, landed in armada strength on the beaches of what is now Mexico in their effort to conquer the Aztecs and claim the land for Spain.

The general, knowing that the battle would be difficult, and morale weak in this new land, ordered his troop ships burned and sunken in the harbor. With the only means of retreat and escape destroyed and the choices narrowed to total commitment, the soldiers took the only option and moved ahead toward victory.

Perhaps Paul had something like that in mind when he announced that the Christians should be considered dead to themselves and alive in Christ. If we are dead, how can we turn back? There is nothing left to turn back to but death.

Our options are limited to just one: total commitment to the new life in Christ. There’s no turning back!

Tags: commitment, life

In his book One Crowded Hour, Tim Bowden describes an incident in Borneo in 1964. Nepalese fighters known as Gurkhas were asked if they would be willing to jump from airplanes into combat against the Indonesians. The Gurkhas didn’t clearly understand what was involved, but they bravely said they would do it, asking only that the plane fly slowly over a swampy area and no higher than 100 feet. When they were told that the parachutes would not have time to open at that height, the Gurkhas replied, “Oh, you didn’t mention parachutes before!”

They were willing to jump out of an airplane at 100′ into a swamp! What commitment. Jesus calls us to follow Him with a similar kind of commitment and courage, willing to risk all for His sake.

What big sacrifice has He asked of you?

Tags: commitment, courage

Over the years as a pastor I’ve seen many people come to Christ when they were in trouble, only to walk away when God delivered them from that trouble. This past year that happened with at least three families I’m aware of. When health or marriage trouble struck in their lives, these three families began attending church and wanted special counseling times with me. I advised them, coached them, referred them, and prayed for them. When the problem went away, so did they.

That’s why I have decided to go public with this personal cancer process. I feel like I need to practice what I preach and be a role model of how a Christian should react when trouble comes. I intend to stay optimistic no matter what and expect good things to come out of bad. And, no matter what, I refuse to distance myself from God or His church (except for the 4-week sabbatical, of course). Expect me to return more committed and wound tighter than ever!

Tags: commitment, faithfulness, trouble