Sacrifice It All

As competitors, it’s easy for us to get caught up in statistics. The media highlights record breaking numbers, titles won and awards received. True competitors know that these accolades don’t define you. The question is: if it doesn't and shouldn't define you, would you give it all up?

If the Lord spoke to you today and told you to give up your sport and follow Him, could you sacrifice it all?

The two time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, George Foreman, gave it all up to follow Christ and share the gospel. The titles, the recognition and money meant nothing without his faith in God. He was mocked and ridiculed for walking away. But when Foreman accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, he discovered there was more to life and there was more fight in him.

In Mark 10:21, Jesus tells the young ruler to sell all his possessions and give it to the poor and come follow Him. He went away sad because he had many possessions. When talking with the disciples, Jesus expressed that it's hard for rich people to get into God's Kingdom. The disciples were shocked to hear this. Peter exclaimed to Jesus that they have left everything to follow Him. 

Jesus responsed:

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”--Mark 10:29-31

Some of you may think you're making sacrifices for your sport. As Christians, we're called to serve Christ because we love Him, knowing that no amount of possession or titles can award us eternal life. It's our relationship with Him and forsaking everything else. We are confirmed in scripture that when we can truly sacrifice it all, we are rewarded with so much more.