I just
spent my lunch hour watching a men’s moguls race from the winter Olympics. Each run lasted approximately 30 seconds and
each skier got four attempts at the course.
At best, each of competitors had two minutes fulfill their dreams.
Everyone likes
the celebration and the fame that come with success. In fact, I have heard that one of the best
times to own a sports related business, like a gym or a ski hill, is around the
time of the Olympics. Watching others succeed
causes us to want to accomplish similar things.
We are inspired by the result.
However, we
only get to see the two minutes and (possibly) the celebration that goes with
them. What we do not see are the years
of training, sacrifice, injuries and the behind the scenes work that went into
those two minutes. Not surprisingly, I
have also heard that most of those who are inspired by the Olympics quit their
newfound exercise program within three months.
The training is way less fun than the celebrating, but, if you are going
to be ready for “your moment”, you have to prepare beforehand.
Similarly,
spiritual outcomes are dependent upon whether we have prepared ourselves ahead
of time or not. For example, Timothy is
told, “Train yourself to be godly. For
physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy
4:7-8). The end result will depend on
his current actions.
Jesus indicated
that our most beneficial spiritual training will be done outside of the
spotlight. Giving to the needy should
not be “announced with trumpets… to be honoured by men”. Rather it should be done “in secret” and then
“Your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew
6:1-4). Our prayer times, rather than
being public displays, should be private conversations (verses 5-15). If you are fasting and meditating, don’t tell
everyone. Dress as you normally would
and do what you would normally do. It is
not about an outward show, but an inward devotion (verses 16-18).
The problem
is that is it easy to be drawn into “the show”.
It is tempting to put our best two minutes of spirituality on display
for all to see. However, real change
comes about in the quiet discipline of following God’s lead every day. God changes my heart, not in the spectacular
moments that everyone sees, but rather in the quiet times that only he
sees.
The
celebration is always dependent on the preparation done beforehand.
When your
moment comes, will you be ready?
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