DontForfeit.com

The most important thing

I am a big fan of sports. I grew up playing basketball, mountain biking, hiking and generally exploring the wild. My first love was soccer. I started playing when I was 4 and played through three years in college. After college I worked for a sports ministry for 12 years. I love competing and watching many different sports, and when I participate I can get pretty competitive. In recent years I have been focused more on running. I have participated in races of the following distances: 5k, 10k, 20k, half marathon, marathon, 50k, 43 miles (6 hour race), 50 miles, 71 miles (12 hour race), 100 miles, 120 miles (last man standing backyard ultra), 200 miles (4 day race) and 260 miles (4 day race). I enjoy pushing myself to my limit and doing my best against other runners that are often younger, stronger and more fit than I am. During long races there are often multiple points where I so badly just want to lie down on the side of the trail or tear off my race bib at an aid station and quit. The desire to quit the race and make the suffering stop can be so tempting! However, that decision would ultimately lead to regret.

Here in this life we are each trying to attain different goals, and it is certain we’ll all go through a lot of ups and downs along the way. Standing on that podium at the end of a race is a great feeling. Having that medal put around your neck or being handed that belt buckle can make you smile even though your entire body is wrecked. However, my successes here in the world are very insignificant and any reward will be short lived. Thankfully, I have hope for eternity because of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe the Bible is true and holds the information we need to learn who God is, how we were designed to live our life and how we can spend eternity with God in heaven.

(Tap or hover over any Bible reference to see the verse without leaving this page.) Mark 8:36 says, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" The success we have on earth does not determine whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell. It can only be determined by whether or not we have put our genuine faith in the work of Jesus Christ alone. There is nothing we can ever do to earn it.

How foolish would it be to quit a big race that you were fully capable of finishing simply because you got a splinter in your finger? You’d be giving up all the benefits and satisfaction of completing it simply because you got sidetracked by something so small in comparison. That is what often happens in a more important area of our life. We get distracted by the things of this world, and we turn our back on Jesus Christ. While the things in this world can be pleasurable, entertaining and fulfilling for a time, they are ultimately insignificant and cannot come close to comparing to what we are offered through Jesus Christ.

Even if it seems we are crushing it in every area of life, all it takes is one sin to become imperfect. See, we will have to answer to a perfect God whose standard is perfection. You and I can never measure up to that standard. Thankfully, God provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven and KNOW (1 John 5:13) that we're going to heaven. We need to realize we're a sinner (Rom 3:23) and rightfully on our way to hell (Rom 6:23) and that we can do nothing on our own to earn salvation (Eph. 2:8-9, John 14:6). God sent his perfect son Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16, 1 Peter 3:18). Jesus was resurrected from the dead (Rom. 4:25), and now we have the opportunity to receive Him as our Savior (John 1:12) when we repent of our sins (Acts 3:19) and ask Him to save us (Rom. 10:13). (Please read each verse that is referenced in this paragraph.)

Is there any reason you would not be willing to receive God's gift of eternal life? If so, is that reason worth spending eternity in hell for it? Are you willing to put your faith in Jesus, turn from your sin and receive Him as your Savior today (Rom. 10:9-10)? Fear kept me from getting saved for many years. I finally conquered my fear and pride and asked God to forgive me of my sins and save me when I was 14 years old.

The Bible says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13). I pray you say yes to this most important decision in your life! If you’re already saved, what have you done to share this important message of hope with others today (Acts 1:8)?