Emmitt Smith was a running back in the NFL for 15 years, most of them with the Dallas Cowboys. In his career he ran for over 18,000 yards - that works out to over 10 miles. Considering the number of actual running plays, Emmitt Smith average 4 yards per carry. This means that each time Emmitt ran he was knocked down every 12 feet (on average). And in spite of being tackled every 12 feet, he still managed to amass over 10 miles of yardage in his career.
The apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while in prison, presumably awaiting execution. Paul had been beaten, stoned and shipwrecked, all for preaching the Gospel. Yet he writes to Timothy, in verse 7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Paul's words and Emmitt Smith's career show us that there is a difference between being knocked down and being knocked out.
The enemy, Satan wants us to quit. He wants to knock us out of the game. Keep your eyes focused on the goal, knowing that with Christ's help, you may be knocked down, but you will not be knocked out.
Showing posts with label sal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sal. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Two Crosses
In Luke 23, we see two criminals that were crucified with Jesus. The reason there are two is to show the grace of God and to demonstrate that there is a choice to be made. Grace is an unearned gift from God - the Gift of Salvation. Now, the first choice is refusal - denying Christ - not accepting the Gift. The second choice is acceptance - reaching out and grabbing the gift.
We are all guilty of sin. We are all deserving of punishment. Some will deny their guilt while others will acknowledge their guilt. Likewise, some will accept God's Gift of Salvation and others will refuse it.
There were two criminals that day - one on His left, the other on His right. In a very real way, each one of us is one of those two criminals. We are all guilty of something, some of us acknowledge our guilt, and others deny it. Some accept the gift of salvation, others refuse it. Each of those men eventually dies on their cross and stands before God to give an account of himself – alone. However, if there were only two crosses that day, who could be reconciled with God?
With Jesus in the middle, suddenly the responses of each of the men take on a new meaning. The first man denies his guilt, the other acknowledges it. Both die, but the second man joins Jesus in paradise. Standing in judgment before God, only the second man has Jesus as his substitute. The first man stands before God alone. Consider how close salvation was to the second man yet he died in unbelief. The first man only asked that Jesus remember him.
There were three crosses on the hill that day. Each of us takes our place on either side of Christ. The one that you identify with, the one that represents your view of Christ will indicate where you will spend eternity.
Both criminals die and both will appear before God. Those that refuse the gift will stand alone. Those that accept the gift will stand with Jesus.
Which of the two criminals are you?
We are all guilty of sin. We are all deserving of punishment. Some will deny their guilt while others will acknowledge their guilt. Likewise, some will accept God's Gift of Salvation and others will refuse it.
There were two criminals that day - one on His left, the other on His right. In a very real way, each one of us is one of those two criminals. We are all guilty of something, some of us acknowledge our guilt, and others deny it. Some accept the gift of salvation, others refuse it. Each of those men eventually dies on their cross and stands before God to give an account of himself – alone. However, if there were only two crosses that day, who could be reconciled with God?
With Jesus in the middle, suddenly the responses of each of the men take on a new meaning. The first man denies his guilt, the other acknowledges it. Both die, but the second man joins Jesus in paradise. Standing in judgment before God, only the second man has Jesus as his substitute. The first man stands before God alone. Consider how close salvation was to the second man yet he died in unbelief. The first man only asked that Jesus remember him.
There were three crosses on the hill that day. Each of us takes our place on either side of Christ. The one that you identify with, the one that represents your view of Christ will indicate where you will spend eternity.
Both criminals die and both will appear before God. Those that refuse the gift will stand alone. Those that accept the gift will stand with Jesus.
Which of the two criminals are you?
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