Going for the Gold in Life
Hebrews 12:1-3
Intro.:
A. Wow, did you get to see the Men’s Figure Skating event in this years Olympics?
It was quite an event. Many of the lead skaters had great problems doing their jumps.
US Figure Skater, Evan Lysacek won the Silver Medal.
He persevered so much to win that medal.
It started when he did real bad in his Short performance. He missed a couple Jumps and just struggled through out the entire performance.
A couple days later it was time for his Long Performance. The problem was: he was now sick with the stomach flu. The day before he had to have an IV. BUT, the day came – he rested up, he pulled it together under very difficult circumstances, and went out on the Ice and skated wonderfully! Enough to win the Silver Medal.
Evan Persevered. He was able to do his best. He finished well. He Medaled.
B. Life is sometimes like Evan’s experience at the Olympics: you slip and fall sometimes, you face difficulties, etc. Yet, what can we do, like Evan to go out and Finish well to get the Prize?
Paul said it this way about his life: 1Tim. 4:7; “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
Phil. 3:13-14, “…But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
That is what Evan Lysacek did this week to Win the Silver Medal in the Olympics.
How can we, like Evan & Paul overcome difficulties and press on to Finish well in life?
C. The Answer to that question is found in Chapter 11 of Hebrews.
- This chapter list several people who finished their life well – They went for the Gold, to receive the crown of Righteousness and eternal life.
- People like Abel who truly worshipped the Lord; Enoch who walked with God; Noah who was totally obedient to the Lord even when no one else was and who warned people about God’s upcoming judgment; Abraham who Obeyed God and followed the Lord even when it meant going to another place to live; Isaac, Jacob, Joseph who overcame the rejection of his own brothers, false accusations, being a slave, to be used by God in a mighty way; Moses was adopted, failed, didn’t speak well and yet God used; etc.
- The message of Heb. 11, is that the key for these people, and us to finish life well – to Go for the Gold is FAITH!
- Vs. 6; “Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
D. Hebrews 12:1-3, calls us to Run the Race of life and do it with FAITH – a Trust in the Lord!
But how can we RUN the RACE of LIFE with FAITH?
Body:
A. We Develop the Faith to Go for the Gold through Fellowship, vs. 1a
“We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.”
This refers to those in Ch. 11 who have lived their life well, finished the race before them with FAITH.
WE can learn from them but we can also learn from one another.
Since, I have been here I have heard names of people who lived their life with FAITH and now rest in the Lord. People like, Smity, Pat Eng, Vern Woodgate, Delores, and many others whose faith was strong and who set an example for us to follow.
We also learn from those present who live in Faith. That is why the Scriptures call us to Spur one another on toward love and good deeds; Encourage and Build one another up in the Lord; Restore one another as we see a brother or sister sin; Love one another in the Lord…Sharpen one another as Iron sharpens Iron.
Just as Athletes learn from those in the sport we learn from one another to Go for the Gold by living with Faith!
We develop our Faith to live for Gold through Fellowship with others who Trust in the Lord.
B. WE Develop the Faith to Go for the Gold by being FITTED properly, vs. 1b
“Let us throw off EVERYTHING that Hinders us” from running the race – in life.
Every once in a while you hear about the gear that helps the Athlete in their particular sport. E.G. The US Bobsled team have a special Aluminum that sharpens as it is on the Ice track.
If you have watched any of the Olympics you have heard a lot about Snowboarding with the Flying Carrot as he took gold and Lindsey who crashed after doing a stunt over her last jump and lost the Gold. But have you noticed that the Snowboarding teams have a uniform that they wear, including a huge Parka. But when they actually race, they don’t wear the Parka – why? Because it would hinder them!
So it is with us in the race of life – to go for the Gold we must have Faith and that means that we must PRIORTIZE what is Best in life – not just what is good – we need to make Priorities and so THROW off EVERYTHING that hinders us.
What are some of the things that Hinder us?
Busyness
Goals other than living up to the Purposes God has for you: Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Ministry, Evangelism.
Focusing on Stuff rather than on Living for God.
The Scriptures call us to Clothe ourselves in Christ, to put on the full armor of God but we also must evaluate those things that make up our Goals, set our Focus, and take up our Time – are things that Hinder you from living in FAITH as you go for the Gold?
C. WE develop the Faith to Go for the Gold in Life by seeking FORGIVENESS.
“Throw off … the sin that so easily entangles.” 1c
Today our society doesn’t like that word –SIN. It wants us to believe that there is nothing really wrong, specially if it is private and you are trying your best.
Don’t buy the lie!
God has set standards of Right and Wrong for us. The examples of Faith in Ch. 11 are those whose Faith was lived out in Obedience: Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, etc.
However, God also provides us with FORGIVENESS! Because of what Jesus has done on the cross we can be Forgiven, as we Confess our Sins.
If we don’t, here is the truth: Sin will take you further than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to be kept – if you don’t Receive God’s forgiveness.
Just like Olympic athletes whom we hear from time to time about competing with sins from: Doping, to being disqualified like Bodie Miller who stradelled a Gate in Skiing, to disobeying the rules of the game.
As sports have certain rules to follow, so it is in life and if we are going to Go for the Gold in Life, we must throw off our SINS and Receive Forgiveness!
D. WE develop the Faith to Go for the Gold in Life by being FOCUSED.
You got to love in the Olympics the Focus of the Athletes!
Evan Lysacek didn’t practice but he spent the day in bed recovering from the Flu visualizing his program. In fact, when he completed his performance and did well, he put his hands on his head. When asked what he was thinking at the point, he said, “It really took a couple seconds to know if this was just me going thru it in my head or was it really my performance.”
That is FOCUS – you see it in the Athletes eyes before they begin their event.
So it is with us as we live in FAITH – we must FOCUS on Jesus Christ – vs. 2-3 “let us FIX our eyes on Jesus…”
The author and perfecter of our faith.
Who for the joy… endured the cross…
We need to have that FOCUS in life! Focus on Jesus!
Conclusion:
A. I am sure that every athlete in the Olympics have their own story but one story that I heard this last week was the Silver Medalist, Frode Estil from Norway.
In the Men’s 3000 M Cross Country Skiing – at the beginning he fell and was involved in a collision with a few other skiers. He was the last one to leave the stadium and then with a broken ski.
But he didn’t give up – he skied the race that was marked out for him. He found a ski and during the race and pressed on.
When they got back into the stadium for the last leg of the race, he was in about 10th place, but he didn’t give up… He pressed on and at the Finish line, he was in 2nd.
B. That perseverance, that goal and desire to finish life well and Faithfully is what God calls us to.
It doesn’t mean that we won’t face problems, obstacles, temptations – but we need to keep the faith and continue on.
So this passage teaches us how we can continue to Go for the Gold in life with Faith – “…so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.” Vs. 3b
How can we Live Faithfully and finish well according to the Lord?
Consider those who have and who are living Faithfully to the Lord = FELLOWSHIP
Be FITTED properly to live Faithfully, by throwing off everything that hinders you.
Seek FORGIVENESS as you throw off the sins that entangle you.
FOCUS yourself and lives goals on JESUS!
C. Where is God calling you to live with FAITH as you go for the Gold in Life?
Fellowship – whose involved in your life to set an example of living with Faith?
Fitted properly: How are you Clothed in Christ, putting on the Full Armor of God? What things (time, goals, priorities) are hindering you from living Faithfully?
Forgiveness – are you playing around with sin in your life? Are you keeping some sin hidden that God is calling you to Throw off by Confessing it and receiving His Forgiveness? 1John 1:9
Focus yourself on Jesus – Are you really focused on Jesus? Or yourself? Your career? Etc.? Will you Focus yourself on Jesus?
