New Life in Christ
Ready - Set - Fire
The Correct Target?
Do you remember the story of Matt Emmons? He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 2004 Olympics. He was competing in the 50 meter 3-position rifle event. He didn't even need a bull's-eye to win. His final shot merely needed to be on target. Normally, the shot he made would have received a score of 8.1, more than enough for a gold medal. But in what described as "an extremely rare mistake in elite completion," Emmons fired at the wrong target. Standing in lane two, he fired at the target in lane three. His score for a good shot at the wrong target: 0. Instead of a medal Emmons ended up in 8th place.
The target we shoot for in life matters. Jesus was quoted saying, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me", John 14:6.
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With so many uncertainties in the world right now, there is one certainty, God is still in control. The One who created the limitless galaxies in just 6 days, has not lost control. Can we still trust Him? That is the real question. I'm saying yes! His ultimate plan was sending His son to earth so that those who believe and trust in Him will have everlasting life. From repenting from our sins, doing a 180 turn, we start to follow all He has for us.
Life Changing
Many Invited
Imagine coming to a friend's house who has invited you over to enjoy a meal. You finish the delicious meal and then listen to some fine music and visit for a while. Finally, you stand up and get your coat as you prepare to leave. But before you leave you reach into your pocket and say, "Now, how much do I owe you?" What an insult! You don't do that with someone who has graciously given you a meal. Isn't it strange, though, how this world is running over with people who think there's something they must do to pay God back? Somehow they are hoping God will smile on them if they work real hard and earn His acceptance; but that's an acceptance on the basis of works. That's not the way it is with grace, the gift from God. This grace is given to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Jesus came and died in our place and thereby satisfied the Father's demands on sin, we need to accept God's gift of eternal life.
That's the good news of the gospel! Jesus is the Christ, He died for our sins and rose again.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
A New Life
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On Christmas day there are names on all the gifts under the tree to know who gets what gift. You can't just walk up to the tree and just start opening any gift. Each gift has been uniquely chosen for each person. Well, it's kind of like that for heaven. Your name needs to be on the gift, then you open that gift and enter heaven. So how do you get this gift of heaven?
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REALIZE - REPENT - RECEIVE
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First, we must REALIZE we are sinners. Everyone, at some point in their life, has offended a perfect and holy God. Apart from realizing that we are sinners in need of a Savior, we have no hope of salvation, opening that gift of heaven.
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After we realize we are sinners in need of a Savior, we must also REPENT. This repentance is a literal U-turn on the road of life, a change of the heart and mind. It's no longer about being self sufficient, but instead trusted Jesus as my Lord and looking to Him as first most importance AND living in a newness of life.
Romans 6:4
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Finally, the realization of sin and willingness to repent must inevitably lead to a readiness to RECEIVE. To truly receive is to trust in and depend on Jesus alone to be the Lord of our lives.
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This is how you get your name on that present under the tree.
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Berhard Finds His Master at the Masters
The words were appropriate for the occasion, but they also were more than a little surprising. "It's wonderful to win the greatest tournament in the world, but it means more to win on Easter Sunday – to celebrate the resurrection of my Lord and Savior," Bernhard Langer said on national TV after winning the Masters in 1993.
It's common today for professional athletes to publicly give God the glory after they win games or championships. But 10 years ago, the practice simply wasn't done. Then came Langer's Masters victory and accompanying Easter message.
"Basically, I wanted to thank God for allowing me to be at this place," Langer said last week from the Augusta National Golf Club, where he was participating in his 20th straight Masters.
The "place" that Langer referred to was not a physical destination but a spiritual journey. When the German-born golfer won the first of his two green jackets in 1985, he had not yet given his life to God. But within days of that first major title, he made a remarkable discovery - Christianity was a relationship, not a religion.
Langer, 45, grew up Catholic in Anhausen, Germany. He attended church every day and served as an altar boy for seven years. But it wasn't until he played in a tournament in Hilton Head, S.C. the week after the 1985 Masters, that he heard an expression that sounded funny to him.
"I was in a Bible study at the tournament and someone said that we needed to be spiritually born again," Langer said.
From there, Langer began reading the Bible on his own, and each day brought new insight.
"Guys were saying that we are saved by grace, not by how good we are," he said. "So I got my own Bible out and there it was in black and white. We're saved by grace and not by our own deeds."
Langer immediately gave his life to the Lord, and still remains somewhat amazed that he became a Christian one week after the greatest win of his career. "It usually happens in the greatest time of need and desperation, and with me it was almost the opposite," he said. "I won my first Masters, which was my first major, and it was a wonderful feeling but there was still a void there. It was almost a feeling of emptiness."
Langer wondered, "Is this all there is? I had lots of money, fast cars, a couple of homes and a young wife. Basically, all you could dream of in this world."
Langer matured in his faith over the next eight years, and when he stood on the brink of a second Masters title in 1993, he knew how he would cap the day if he won.
"I had a four-shot lead going into Sunday and obviously I had a lot of high hopes of winning the tournament," he said. "And I wanted to give the glory to God."
As the final round unfolded, Langer sensed a peace that he still finds difficult to describe. "A good Christian friend of mine told me in the days before the tournament began that he had been praying and that I was going to win," he said. "As I played, I believe the Spirit was telling me that I was not just going to do well, but I was going to win. I was very calm."
Langer defeated Chip Beck by four shots to become only the 13th player to win at least two Masters titles.
Little did Langer know that his TV testimony would give other Christian athletes confidence to also proclaim God's goodness.
Paul Azinger won the PGA Championship a few months after Langer won the Masters, and thanked God for giving him the ability to play at such a high level.
Steve Jones and the late Payne Stewart also went public with their thanks on TV. "I wouldn't say I started it all. I've seen guys like Steve Jones, Larry Mize and Tom Lehman do it," Langer said, downplaying the significance of his single act of witness. He pointed out that Christianity could be discussed more openly in the United States than in Germany.
"It's more for behind closed doors over there," he said. "Over here, people can talk about it without changing the subject."
Langer may want to deflect the credit for sharing his convictions on TV, but it's clear that his boldness broke at least one barrier. It showed millions of people that athletes have faith in something greater than their own abilities.
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