Being a volunteer for Ironman can be an exciting, intense, humbling and a very gratifying experience.There is something special about watching those athletes work so hard to achieve a goal that they have set before themselves. Crossing that Ironman finish line has to be an incredible feeling. Receiving that medal around their neck that signifies them as an "Ironman" or "Ironwoman", WOW! And, for a moment, a week or maybe even longer they may feel as though they have achieved "greatness"! This achievement, this "greatness" however, hasn't come without cost. They have worked their tails off hour after hour to reach this pivotal moment. They have sacrificed time with their families, trained day in and day out and have stuck to an incredibly strict diet in order to be in tip top shape for this one day.I have often wondered what it would be like if we were to run the race that God has called us to with such commitment, determination, sacrifice, and discipline as these "Iron People" do. Not as if we are training for one day but for everyday. What if we new our Jesus so well, that we could wake up every morning ready to take on whatever the world threw at us? What if we were so confident in the love that Christ set before us on the cross that we could not help but share that love with our "neighbors"? Would our lives look the same? Would our friend's lives look the same? Would it be possible that we could make a bigger difference in this world? In Hebrews 12:1b God has called us to run our race well, just as these Ironmen and women have:"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." This will not come without cost! We must get rid of the crap that takes over our lives, the sin that entraps us and makes us complacent and unable to change.
Because reality is that God has a much bigger "greatness" in store for us. A "greatness" that if we let it can last not just one day or one week, or one month, but for eternity.This is not an easy race to run, there will be sacrifice, there will be loss, there will be a need for discipline, determination, & commitment. But you don't have do it alone. The body of Christ is here to run this race with you. Phos Church is here to run this race with you. And the reward, oh the reward, we can't begin to imagine how "GREAT!" it will be.
Meredith lewis
Phos Church
