Winner, forever

It is rare indeed to find a person who is ambivalent about winning.  Surely everyone wants to win – whether it’s Scrabble or first to answer a trivia question.  Humans are innately competitive.

Christians are helped by the Apostle Paul’s use of this imagery, when we read in God’s word – Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Corinthians 9:24).  In other words, run to win!  The apostle urges all believers to have focus and discipline in the Christian life, striving and straining to please God and ensure that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.   (Philippians 2:16) 

Hold on, you say.  I know my Articles (‘Articles of Faith’ of Gospel Standard Strict Baptist Churches), and especially Article 9 – “all the elect shall be thus drawn to Christ, and shall finally persevere; so that not one of the elect shall perish, but all arrive safely in glory”.  Yes, and amen, that is true, gloriously true.  Is this in conflict with the urgings of Paul?  Might I not just ‘rest on the laurels’ of my assured final perseverance?

Certainly not.  The believer knows that the natural desire to win – to press on and obtain – in the Christian, is a sanctified one.  That which was previously directed at earthly obtainment, now, as a product of regeneration and driven by a love for the God who has saved me, presses me to advance.  In fact, it would excite concern in us, if we detected a lack of such a desire, for we would ask ourselves, “surely His Spirit at work in me must be pressing me into godliness, generating that good fruit of which His word speaks?”

Scottie Scheffler has just won The Masters (the biggest golf tournament in the world) (for the second time) and spoke at a press conference on Sunday, where he reflected on being a Christian and on craving winning –

“I’ve been called to come out here, do my best, compete and glorify God …  I was sitting around with my buddies this morning. I was a bit overwhelmed because I told them I wish that I didn’t want to win as badly as I did. Or as badly as I do. I think it would make the mornings easier, but I love winning. I hate losing. I really do. And when you’re here in the biggest moments when I’m sitting there with a lead on Sunday, I really, really want to win badly.”

We would expect an athlete to be so driven, especially one who is presently leading amongst his peers, all of whom are talented and driven to improve.  But he goes on, and bears witness to the centrality of Christ for himself (and for every believer), and both teaches the world and reminds the Church of the real prize:

“And my buddies told me this morning, you know, my victory was secure on the cross. And that’s a pretty special feeling. To know that I’m secure for forever and it doesn’t matter. You know whether or not I win this tournament or if I lose this tournament, you know, my identity is secure for forever.”

This is the only treasure worth having, worth pursuing.  Whether as a professional golfer or a schoolteacher or a busy mum at home –

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Matthew 13:44 

Yours forever, Christian.  Winner.