Good morning. What are your thoughts on 2nd place? I guess it depends on the context, doesn’t it? If a marathoner finishes 2nd out of a few hundred runners, he or she should be celebrated. That is a life-time achievement worthy of pride. If the Minnesota Vikings finish 2nd this Sunday, that means they lost. Not much reason for pride in that.
On Wednesday morning Tiger Woods gave his first interview since his horrible car accident that nearly cost him his life. That accident means that it is now his dream to be able to work his way back to being able to play golf competitively, even though he knows that he will never be the same and never be a factor on the PGA Tour as he once was. I remember back in 2005 when Woods chipped from 65 feet off the green, making the shot, and forcing a sudden death playoff with Chris DiMarco. Everyone there, and all of us watching on the TV, knew that once he was in the playoff there was no way Woods would lose, and he didn’t. He won in the first playoff hole, completing a remarkable comeback from a few strokes behind with not many holes to play, to winning in that extra hole. I remember feeling bad for Chris DiMarco. He had the thing sewn up. No way he should have lost. Why, it would take something extraordinary, almost miraculous, for him to lose. Like someone holing a 65’ shot from off the green, which is exactly what happened. By the way, my feeling sorry for DiMarco didn’t last too long. I read the next day that 2nd place in that tournament won him $750,000 in prize money. Most of us could find a way to live with 2nd place if that was the pay day.
But now let’s talk about you and I. How do you feel about 2nd place in the great race of life? Is that something to be celebrated our mourned? The apostle Paul clarifies the question in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Paul is saying that he is willing to put in the effort of rigorous training because his goal is to win. 2nd place is not good enough for him. Why is winning the prize so important when the race in question is spiritual and the finish line is heaven? Because when it comes to the heavenly realm, only winners are allowed.
What? Oh my goodness, that can’t be right! Are we saying that 2nd place gets us a one-way ticket to where none of us want to go? Yes, actually, we need to finish the race and we need to win.
But wait a moment, don’t lose heart, there is more. We read from Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul realizes that his contest is about over. His match, his race, his fight is nearing the end. Is he concerned? Does he fear the outcome? Not at all! Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day!
Paul knows that the victory is not of his own doing but through the way of our Lord. Jesus has ensured the victory, and Jesus, our righteous judge, awards the victor’s prize.
But what about us? Are we so fortunate as to have our race’s outcome decided in the same way?
Yes! Paul says that the victory which he knows full well is his, is also true for each of us: and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2nd place? Not a problem…never happen…isn’t possible. All who belong to Jesus are winners through the victory made possible with His love and through His sacrifice.
Cheer each other on today, you are winning!
Vern