If you were in UAE, summer months
especially August is your best
hate month because of the soaring temperature reaching up to 52 degrees celsius. This is the time of month were in the you want
to leave the country and be in a place
where in the weather will refreshes you.
But for us Friday school teachers ( Sunday School teachers for
others), this is the time of the year we are excited to come (True? teachers :) ). Why? not because the kids are few, but because this is the month for our annual Vacation Bible School
(VBS). A 2 whole day of fun filled
activities, singing, dancing, playing
and learning more about our Savior Jesus Christ. This year, we have held our VBS last Aug
12-13, 2016 at Crystal Plaza Hotel. This
is my 9th year of VBS in this country
and each year's experience are always memorable and exciting. This is also the year wherein I tried to
assist in toddler class ,usually I prepared the higher level, because I think my
patience is not as elastic as rubber band. I do love kids but dealing with them
the whole day with all kinds of tantrums is another story.
VBS theme for this year is all about being an athlete (Hebrews
12:1b). Each one of us has its own race
that are
set before us and we are expected
to finish the race no matter how hard and difficult it will be along the
way. God commanded us to Fight the Good
fight, Finish the Race and Keep the
Faith. As an
athlete there are 5 athletic qualities that all of us must also possessed, Discipline, Focus, Endurance, Teamwork and Confidence.
1. Focus - Yes, everything else is
worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord. For his sake I have discarded
everything , counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ( Philippians 3:8 NLT).
An athlete should focus mainly to one goal,
that is to get the prize. Focus is the quality that all athletes need to have. They should set their minds on their goals and do everything they can to
achieve it. They do not look at their
opponents, on the judges, on the spectators
but instead they keep their eyes on the target, on the finish line. Moses is a good example for this attitude. He was a prince who gave up his high position and all the
treasures of his kingdom because he fixed his attention on something
that is more important, more valuable than all the riches of the whole world.
But then distraction is the
primary obstacle of an
athlete. Competing in a game is not measured on how you started the game but on how you played during the game. Same with us,
upon reaching the finish line, God will not asked us on what kind of
life we have, but on how we live our life along our journey. Let us not be distracted on what is happening around us but instead ,
let us always keep our eyes on Jesus , the author and finisher of our faith. Let always be reminded
that what we have here on earth is nothing compare to the
treasures that awaits
us in heaven.
2.
Discipline - Therefore , since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us.
(Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
A disciplined athlete is a
victorious athlete. An athlete whose competing in a game, may he be a
runner, swimmer , boxer or a gymnast
undergone a strict training and discipline before the competition. They follow certain strict diets, training and exercises in order for them to be strong
and fit. They give up the comfort they
have in exchange of the gold prize
after the competition. As Christian athletes we too are expected to be
strong and fit but not only physically but most importantly, we should be fit
spiritually. Continuous reading of His words, praying unceasingly, faithful tithing, not giving up meeting
together are some of those discipline that we have to endure.
With the story of Achan, God had commanded the
Israelite to destroy the entire city of
Jericho because of its great sin, He also commanded them not to take anything
from Jericho. He warned then that bringing anything would lead the whole camp
in destruction and whoever found guilty
will be liable for that. The Israelites obeyed, except for Achan, he
stole beautiful robes, some gold and
silver and hid all these things in his tent.
His sin was discovered, of course
(Numbers 32:23) and God commanded Achan and his entire family including all his
animals to be stoned to death. Sin
hinders us from continuing the race. It entangles on us that
limits our movement and later on crippled us. But if we will look to Jesus alone and fixed our eyes in Him, we will be sure
that even though sins keep on blocking
our way, Jesus will be always be near us
to help us to run through every obstacle that will come along our way.
3.
Endurance -Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
You will know a good runner not on how
fast he was in the starting point,
but on how fast he will become to reach the finish line. We have seen a lot of runner who are very fast
after the gun shot but are left behind in the middle of the race. Or we know people who makes resolutions then
stop when it gets uncomfortable. Some stop working on their task and leave them
undone. When difficulty comes, when they have to deal with difficulties, when
its becomes painful, they become shortsighted. They see everything blurred immediately
and focus on the present pain instead of the future gain.
Jesus knew before hand that His
greatest mission was to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. The One who will take
away the sins of the world. He can
refuse it if he wants to but still he chose to come to the earth
and die in a shameful manner for us to gain the beautiful life in heaven. In the last hours before He was arrested, He
went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray
with His disciples, He knew the ordeal that He will going through, but still He surrendered
to the will of God. After He prayed ,
Jesus found His disciple asleep instead
of praying with Him. Not long
ago, He was arrested. He faced the
betrayal of one of His disciple, the
mocking of the people, the painful crown of thorns, the spits on this face, being nailed on the
cross and died, but He bore them all. If we will weigh the hardship that He
went through, it's not even close to an inch to what we are suffering right
now. As we face our present hardship, remember
we are not alone on this battle because our Heavenly Father will strengthen us
as we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, who faced and endured the worst for
our sake.
4. Teamwork - And let us consider
how may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24
Teamwork allows us to do things with others
that would take a lot of time, effort
and energy if we will do it by our own.
Teamwork allows us to gather more ideas, support and build trust and mutual encouragement with each other. Teamwork isn't a new concept. Even during early days. Team work was first originated by God when He
formed the earth thru the help of the Son and Holy Spirit. Among are Adam and Eve, Moses and Joshua,
Paul and Silas, Peter and John and of course Jesus and His disciple.
They worked hand in hand, and face every hardship together, for one common goal - To glorify and give honor to God. In the story of Paul, he spent his time with
the couple Priscilla and Aquila in making tents
and in the same way sharing about
Jesus. The three of them traveled to
Ephesus as a team until such time Paul left them and headed on His own journey.
By then, the couple are teaming
with Apollos, though he was an educated
man, he was humble enough to listen and take instruction from the couple. When
we join God's family , we become one
team, and as one body. We work together in harmony to fulfill and accomplish
God's plan for everyone.
5. Confidence- I have fought the good fight of faith. I
have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness. 2
Timothy 4:7-8a.
The life of an athlete
is not easy, he will endure everything for him to be fit to compete and win the gold. The
apostle Paul was very much familiar with the concept of suffering because he
himself experienced it. He endured the
pain of being hated by his own people.
It was not easy. Growing up he
enjoyed the respect of his people
because of his exceptional knowledge of the Law.
But by following Jesus he risked
everything he had. He also endured
death. They arrested him and even put to
jail because of his conviction - to proclaim the truth about the resurrection
of Jesus, His Master. Yet in spite of
everything Paul's faith did not waiver.
He endured everything because He
know that Jesus equipped him not only to the ministry but also to all the
sufferings he will get through. He is
confident that if he will stick on the
plan that Jesus prepared for him , he will finish the race triumphantly. Paul was able to finish well the race because
he had eternity in his mind. He is fully
sure of that the temporary pain and suffering
that he need to endure while on earth were insignificant compared to the eternal rewards that awaits with him in
heaven with Jesus. Same with us, Jesus
promised us a heavenly reward for those who love and serve Him faithfully.
It may be tiring but at the end of the day, it's always
brings us so much joy, knowing that we are imparting
with these children, the Good News, that
Jesus loves us and He died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins,
He then rose again, returned to heaven prepared
a place for us and promised that we
will be with Him together in eternity.
All the hardship and all the
preparations are worth it because we know that our labor will not be in vain.
And in the end we have the confidence that we have finished the race well.
To God be all the glory.
