What Is Love?

The following article is Lesson 3 from my book, Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual:

---

Superheroes, having the correct understanding of what is good and right, are full of love, and they are compelled to act out from love. This is the only reason we can distinguish the hero from the villain. Spider-Man doesn’t save a falling person from splatting on the ground because he hates the person he saves, right? The superhero saves someone from danger/death because he/she has love for the person he/she is saving. In stark contrast, the villain performs acts of evil, not love. Again, evil is merely a privation of what is good; hatred is a privation or lack of love. It is written in James 2:8 that we are doing right by living a life of love toward others. But what is love? 

Love is not something we can have or hold like materialists would like us to believe. Not everything in life can be boiled down to materialism. Think about it: Can you describe the physical features of love or even the thought about love? How much does love weigh? Of what is the love molecule comprised? There is no infinity stone of love we can possess that can be contained in a gauntlet. In fact, of all the infinity stones Thanos (from the Avengers) had been able to collect that provided him with seemingly unlimited power and ability, it is evident that he lacked love, and that is why he had no qualms about murdering half of the created creatures in the universe—including his own daughter! In fact, Thanos had to sacrifice love in order to be able to obtain one of the infinity stones. Ultimately, Thanos traded love for power because he could not possess both. 

But what is love? And why do humans possess the capability to love? If love is not a material that can be weighed, or measured, how are humans able to possess love? How do we even know that love exists? Does love exist? We know that love exists—not because humans have defined the term—but because the Creator provided the definition of love and humans live by that defined divine design. 

Think about this: Oxygen—the air we breathe—exists whether humanity believes in it or not. In fact, oxygen exists even if humans call it something else. Humanity never created or invented oxygen; we merely discovered it. Likewise, love exists whether humanity believes love exists or not. Love exists even if humans call it something else. In fact, the definition of love is so confused by many humans because they believe it to be something it is not. Many people misuse the word love when they are actually referring to something else that love is not. And this is why it is important that the word love be clearly defined. 

(1 John 4:7–8, NLT)
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

(1 John 4:19, ESV)
“We love because he first loved us.”

Scripture makes sense. If GOD is love, then we would love because GOD first loved us because GOD created us. We are able to love because GOD is love and we are from GOD. If love is GOD, then we must know who GOD is so we can better understand what love is. So who is GOD? We will examine that in detail in Lesson 32, but for now suffice it to say that GOD is love and the absolute moral standard and therefore provides the definition of love (which we will soon examine and define). But we can also better understand love by examining what love is not. 

Love Is Not An Emotion 

Many people in the world claim that love is an emotion, but that simply isn’t true. Love affects our emotions and even causes us to produce emotions within us, but love is not an emotion in and of itself. You may claim that you can feel as if someone loves you, but love is not a feeling. 

Love Is Not Sexual Intercourse 

It is unwise to confuse sex for love and love for sex. Sex needs love to be relevant and meaningful; however, love does not need sex to be relevant and meaningful. A person can have sex with another person simply for the pleasure all while possessing no love for that individual. Examples of this, of course, is prostitution or rape. Such acts of sexual intercourse are meaningless because there is no love in the act of sex. That kind of sex serves a selfish purpose, but has no ultimate meaning. And of course, sex isn’t necessary for love to exist, to be relevant and be meaningful (I will expound upon this later when I define love). Now sex may be found in one of the definitions of love (Eros—I’ll get to this soon), but Eros is within the definition of love; love is ultimately selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. A distorted desire is often misconstrued, mistaken as love. It is unwise to confuse lust for love. 

Even if love is not an emotion, a feeling, or even the act of sexual intercourse, does it matter if love can be clearly defined? If so, why does it matter? Consider what is written: 

(1 Corin. 13:1–3, NLT)
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

The definition of love matters because GOD is love and GOD created us in His image (Gen. 1:27). For without GOD, love would not matter because life would ultimately be meaningless and purposeless. And if we are to be loving beings, it is important that we understand the definition of love. 

What Is Love? 

(1 Corin. 13:4–8, NLT)
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!”

Love Is an Action 

Though it is not specifically and solely the act of sexual intercourse, love is definitely an action; it is something we do. Read verses 4–7 again and take notice of the fourteen different active descriptions the Holy Spirit (via Paul) uses to define love (patience, kindness, etc.). It’s important to note that this is not Paul’s definition of love, but the definition of love written by Paul while he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

Love Is a Choice 

The fourteen active descriptions are actions that we choose to do or not to do. There’s a nonsensical saying that states, “You can’t help who you love.” But yes—you can! We get to decide if we love and who we will love if we decide to love. And this is because we have free will (discussed in Lesson 41). 

Also, there’s a saying that states, “I fell in love.” It sounds so romantic, but this is also nonsense. Love is not a hole or trapdoor we can fall in. You don’t fall in love any more than you fall out of love. Love is a choice. You choose to love. You choose not to love. People do not fall in love; people decide to love. People do, however, fall into the trapdoor of lust. When people talk about love at first sight, what they really mean is lust at first sight. Now is it possible to possess love for someone at first sight? General love? Yes. Complete love? No. Love in the sense that you want the best for someone? Yes. Love in the sense that you desire the best for someone despite all his/her flaws and mistakes? No. It’s not possible to love someone so deeply at first sight because you wouldn’t know the flaws and mistakes associated with the person. And how is it possible to truly love someone unless you love despite the flaws and mistakes? 

Love, in a nutshell, is the good you will show toward someone and/or others. It’s treating someone else with the qualities described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Take the Supreme Superhero (Jesus) as an example (after all, the Savior is the definition of love and the ultimate example of love): 

(John 15:12–13, NLT)
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

However, the Supreme Superhero goes even further by commanding us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). And then the Savior did exactly that—Jesus went out and laid down His life for us by dying on the cross as our atoning sacrifice while being mocked, spat on, beaten, lacerated, and murdered by those who hated Him for no good reason. Love is caring more for others than for self because love is selfless. Love is sacrificial. Love is unconditional. 

Love Defined 

Unlike the English language, which uses the one word of love ambiguously, the ancient Greek language used different words to define the one word of love so that people wouldn’t be confused as to which definition of love should be inferred. Examine the four following words and their associated definitions: 

• Storge/stergo—This is a familial love such as the love of a parent toward offspring and vice versa. Devotion can be a key word associated with this type of love.

• Phileo—This love is companionable and relational. It means brotherly/sisterly love or friendship. It carries the idea of two or more people who feel compatible with each other.

• Eros—This is the word for sexual or romantic love. In fact, this is where we get the word erotic. This word implies a sexual demand. And because it is unwise to confuse lust for love, it is imperative that we not confuse lust for Eros. The passion and intimacy of Eros is to be confined within the covenant bond between husband and wife, as was designed by the Designer. Lust is only about the pelvic thrust, to seek pleasure and fulfill a selfish desire. Lust is committed only to fulfilling a distorted desire whereas love (eros) is committed to fulfilling the needs of the partner within the covenant union. Therefore, be wise: pursue love and reject thoughts produced from the lustful lair of the Liar—they are lies created in the cave of the contemptible con artist and Counterfeiter, the Salesman that is Satan. Don’t buy the lies. Even a lustful look is adultery in the heart (Matt. 5:28). Money can’t buy you love. And no—that’s actually not from the Beatles—it’s from the Song of Solomon 8:7.

• Agape—This is the highest and deepest level of love. This is the ultimate love and is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. This is the love of GOD. This is the type of love all superheroes should possess. 

(1 Pet. 4:8, NLT)
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Love covers a multitude of sins? Is that true? Yes! In fact, that is exactly what Jesus did for us:

(Rom. 5:6–8, NLT)
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

For love, compassion is the key and empathy is everything: 

(Luke 23:34, NLT)
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Jesus is able to see us as His precious people, not a pervasive problem such as a plague. The Savior sees us as eternal beings, not mortal enemies. The Supreme Superhero sees us as family who belong in His heavenly home, not failures to be flung in the fiery furnace. Hell is where evil belongs and will ultimately be quarantined, but GOD doesn’t desire for us to go to that awful place. In fact, the Lord desires for everyone to be saved and doesn’t take any delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezek. 18:21–23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). 

Jesus is our awesome, ardent advocate who absorbed for us the penalty of sin. Apostle Paul assists us by providing an important reminder that helps us put people into proper perspective: 

(Eph. 6:12, NLT)
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

It is of the utmost importance that all superheroes remember this: we are to hate evil/sin, but we are to love people. 

Conclusion 

1. Love never fails. 

(Song of Sol. 8:7, NLT)
“Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”

2. Love perfects us. 

(1 John 4:12–18, NLT)
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

3. Love is supreme. 

(1 Corin. 13:13, NLT)
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

Reflection 

If you want to be a superhero, you must possess love and choose to love others. A superhero can only be a superhero if the hero first and foremost possesses love for others. Do you possess love for others? If not, you resemble a villain. But wait—is that a fair statement? Consider the words of the Supreme Superhero:

(Matt. 12:30, ESV)
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

The late and great Martin Luther King Jr. once posed a powerful question to the clergymen of Alabama in his renowned letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He asked, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?” 

And that’s not a fallacy of false dilemma—if we’re not loving others, then…we’re not loving people. Therefore, I implore everyone to examine the motives and intentions of each and every choice/decision you make. Are you able to recognize good from bad? Right from wrong? Are you living a life of love or hate? For if you’re not living a life of love, what are you doing and what is your life? I choose to live an extreme life of love (not lust), and I urge you to do the same. Don’t scatter. Be a gatherer. Ironically, the best way to be a gatherer of people is to scatter seeds of love. How many seeds of love can you sow today? 

So ask yourself, do you love others? From where did you get this desire to love? Do you feel compelled to act out from love? If so, why do you think that is? All superheroes possess love for people. If you love people, then you possess one of the qualities of a superhero and you just might be one someday! 

Ecclesiastes?

I received an email from someone asking for help understanding something in the Bible. Because it might also help whoever happens to read this, this article is my response I sent to him:

---

Hi Luis! Thank you for the email! 

You wrote, “I’m having some trouble understanding Ecclesiastes 9:1-10.” 

To eliminate your confusion regarding Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, you must first understand the book as a whole. The subject of this book is the meaning of life; it investigates the validity of the common quest to find meaning in life. We should not expect to find meaning in this life by seeking self-fulfillment; instead, we should pursue a GOD-centered life. We must adjust our expectations accordingly. By lowering expectations to this life of worldly things, we can increase our contentment and hope for what is to come. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes is listed only as the Hebrew “Qoheleth,” meaning the convener, collector, assembler, or preacher. The Hebrew word is related to the term for “assembly” (Hb. qahal) and may be a title for someone who addresses an assembly (hence it is often translated “Preacher”). Most scholars believe it is not a name, but a title. The author writes honestly about the emptiness of life and how life is ultimately pointless; however, the point is that life is pointless without GOD. Under the sun? Or under Heaven? Of this accidental world? Or by design, not of this world? Only GOD gives meaning; GOD provides purpose; meaning and purpose do not exist apart from GOD. Without GOD, there is only secular humanism; secular humanism is ultimately nihilistic; with nihilism, happiness is God; however, happiness is meaningless without purpose. If pursuit of happiness is the purpose, how can the humanist pursuing happiness have any right to say what is right? Is the drug addict or rapist not pursuing his/her own pleasure or happiness? Not only is secular humanism ultimately nihilistic, but it is ultimately morally relativistic. Moral relativism is absolutely absurd. Without GOD, I have already experienced all that life has to offer and death is the only experience that remains. And it all amounts to nothing. In fact, this is the recurring theme within this book: all is vanity. But that word vanity is a translation of the Hebrew word “hebel,” which refers concretely to a mist, vapor or breath; it means something meaningless or purposeless, just as a vapor quickly appears and then vanishes. A vapor is not something you can grasp and hold onto. What is happiness when happiness is purposeless? What is the meaning to life? Everything leads back to GOD. The author claims that wisdom ultimately comes from the “one Shepherd” (12:11), i.e., from GOD (Genesis 48:15; Psalm 23:1; 28:9; 80:1). The theme of Ecclesiastes is the necessity of fearing GOD in a fallen, and therefore frequently confusing and frustrating, world. Thus, the author’s skepticism and negative speech is for the purpose of demonstrating the futility of those who are godless. All in all, life is hard, but life is meaningless and purposeless without GOD; only in GOD is there meaning and purpose. 

So, after understanding the book as a whole, we are able to better understand how it appears in sections. Examine this example:

• The importance of fearing GOD (8:10-13)
• The limits of human knowledge (8:14-17)
• The unpredictability of life and certainty of death (9:1-6)
• Finding enjoyment as circumstances allow (9:7-10)
• More on the unpredictability of life (9:11-12)

And now let’s examine the specific section you are having trouble understanding (9:1-10). 

Essentially, 9:1-3 is stating the same message that Matthew 5:45 states in that “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” And this message is what you see in Matthew 7:24-27 with the parable of two people building on two different foundations. So, essentially, this is saying that GOD does not show partiality and He provides everyone with life and what they need in order to come to Him for salvation. And this message can be seen in multiple scriptures: Deuteronomy 10:17; 2Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1Peter 1:17.

And then 9:4-10 essentially says that you can have hope so long as you are alive. The dead have no hope. But we know from the rest of Scripture that the dead are the wicked and those who are truly alive are the children of GOD. In verse 8, it states that our garments should be white. Well, from the rest of Scripture in the Bible we know that white garments represent those who enter the Kingdom of GOD and have been purified and made clean or holy (Revelation 3:5; 7:9). And in 9:10 when the author tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” we see the same message in one of Paul’s letters:

(Colossians 3:17)

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

(Colossians 3:23-25)

“23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”

Conclusion:

Scripture always interprets Scripture. First, we must know what the Bible says as a whole. And then we need to know what each book says as a whole. And then we need to break it down into sections, and then examine every word. Therefore, what we should learn from this book is just as it is written:

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

“13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

 

GOD will judge everyone and everything everyone has done. Nothing will be hidden (Matthew 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17; 12:2-3). And Matthew 10:26-39 informs us that it is the LORD we need to seek— it is only in Him we will discover our purpose and find fulfillment. 

Identity Crisis

---

If you would rather read this message, I have provided the words below:

---

INTRODUCTION: 

What do you do when you first meet someone? Let’s examine some examples from both teenage and adult perspectives:

(1)  Teen Friendship only:  

• Get his/her name?
• Ask what he/she likes to do?
• Find out where he/she typically hangs out?
• Do you know any of the same people?
• Find out what you have in common.
• Discern who the person is and if you want that person to be in your life. 

(2)  Teen Romantic interest:  

• Robot mode: Judge by appearance. Scan the subject.
• Facial recognition: Approved. Does not need a bag over the head.
• Body: mid-section: Approved.
• Body: lower-section: there’s some junk in the trunk but that’s okay because I like big butts and I cannot lie—
• We don’t even think about who they are! They could be the most attractive serial killer you’ve ever met.

(3)  Adult friendship only:  (we are worse than teens)

• What’s your name? (I don’t really care and I probably won’t remember it)
• What do you do for a living? (Do I have a better career than you? Do I make more money than you? Am I better than you?)

(4)  Adult romantic interest: 

• Adults basically do the same thing as teens.

(5)  Is it any wonder why so many friendships last a long time — even a lifetime? Is it any wonder why so many romantic relationships end in heartache, pain, and divorce? 

• When seeking friendships, we typically seek to find who the person is – we seek to discover that person’s identity.
• When seeking romantic relationships, we typically seek to find what is physically attractive to look at and then try to force that person to become the best friend we’re hoping to find.

SCRIPTURE READING:

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ ‘Well,’ they replied, ‘some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.’ Then he asked them, ‘But who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.’ ”
(Matthew 16:13-17) -NLT

GAMESHOW:  GUESS WHO

How To Play:

Get out a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Write numbers 1-7, going down. I am going to describe to you seven different people, one at a time. As I am describing each person to you, I want you to try to imagine what each person looks like. First, imagine whether the person is male or female. Write it down — male or female. After you assume the gender of the person, I want you to imagine the age, height, and even the weight of the person. I want you to also imagine if the person has a lot of facial hair or if the person is clean shaven. Imagine the person’s skin tone, hair color and even the eye color. Does the person have freckles? Wrinkles? Does the person have scars? What clothing would the person be wearing? Be as specific as possible in your guess as to who this person is. If you know who the person is, simply write the name of the person. 

IDENTITY #1

Description:  

This person had a sister and a brother who both died at an early age. Not too much longer after the death of both siblings, this person’s mother also died. This person eventually became a part-owner of a store, but the business failed. This person studied law. This person eventually fell in love; however, this person’s love interest also eventually died. With only two saddlebags to hold all of this person’s possessions, this person moved to a new city to live in at the age of 28. This person eventually got into politics. This person ran for president year after year and got rejected year after year; however, this person finally got elected as the president of the United States at the age of 52.

Identity Revealed:

It was only after years of rejection and ‘failure’ that this man succeeded. That man was Abraham Lincoln.

IDENTITY #2

Description:

This person was born in 1929. This person lived in a confined space with many other people and felt as if the atmosphere was suffocating at times. At the age of only 15, this person got arrested. At the young age of 16, this person died from typhoid fever; in addition, all family members with the exception of the father ended up dying. But the father found this person’s diary and this diary became famous.

Identity Revealed:  

The young girl named Anne Frank eventually went on to inspire millions of people despite the fact that she wasn’t even alive here on Earth. Her father — the only remaining family member — found Anne’s diary, was amazed by her maturity and character and then he got it published into a book. Anne provided wonderful insight into a dark moment of history inundated with Nazis and also showed the world that maturity can be found in youth and a hero can look like a female. 

{She was 16! You are not too young to make a difference!}

IDENTITY #3

Description:  

This person was born in Australia. As a child, this person struggled mentally, emotionally, and even physically. At one point, this person considered suicide. At the age of 21, this person graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and with a double major in accountancy and financial planning. This person is now a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is Nick Vujicic; he was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. Nick has encouraged, motivated and inspired millions of people simply because he overcame and never quit. Though he lives a life without limbs, his heart propels him in the direction he needs to go.

IDENTITY #4

Description:  

This person was one of eight siblings and was also the runt of the litter. Being the smallest, this person was sent to watch over sheep rather than being in war or hunting. On one occasion, a special visitor came to the father and desired to choose one of the siblings for a special task and rare position. But on this occasion, this person was excluded from the other siblings and wasn’t even presented as a choice to the special visitor. Neither the father nor the siblings thought very much of this person.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is the great David of the Bible. Even Samuel — a prophet — admitted he wanted to choose David’s brother over David. But GOD’s response in 1Samuel 16:6-7 tells us that GOD does not look at appearance, but looks at the heart.

IDENTITY #5

Description:  

This person dressed with clothing that proclaims importance and that is because this person possesses an important title or position. This person was one of the few who comprised the ruling class in the area. This person was a successful person by human standards. However, this person eventually caused an innocent and much loved man to receive a death sentence and was later despised because of it. 

Identity Revealed:  

This person is one of the many Pharisees whom Jesus opposed and often rebuked. These are the people who seemed like they had it all together and were doing everything right! Though the Pharisees had the appearance of importance and right character, they lacked heart. Examine the words of Jesus regarding the Pharisees:

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others…. Woe to you, blind guides…. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness…. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
(Matthew 23:1-5, 16, 27-28, 33) -ESV 

IDENTITY #6

Description:  

This person grew up agnostic and eventually became a performer in Hollywood for the entertainment industry and had been in dozens of television shows. This person became a nihilistic atheist whose only concern was experiencing fun. Sadly, this person’s nihilism brought this person to write out a suicide letter, considering everything in life to be worthless and meaningless — even life itself. After failing to commit suicide, this person eventually left the entertainment industry and ended up receiving unemployment checks until working such jobs as a janitor for an elementary school and as a groundskeeper for an apartment community. By the world’s standards, this person became a failure and an insignificant and invisible nobody.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is me (Trenton Gill). Jesus saved me from myself. To see my entire testimony, please see my other article, “My Testimony: from Agnosticism, to Atheism, to Christianity“.

IDENTITY #7

Description:  

As a baby, this person was born in a dirty place where animals typically go to eat. There never seemed to be anything remarkable about this person; in fact, this person worked an ordinary job as a typical carpenter. When this person was around 30 years of age, this person went above and beyond to love people. And yet despite of this person’s great love, this person was condemned to a death sentence on false accusations and died a horrible death. People mocked this person as this person died.

Identity Revealed:  

This person is Christ Jesus. Jesus — fully GOD — became fully human in order to save us from ourselves. By His great sacrificial love, our bloodstained sinful selves have been whitewashed and cleansed and we will be able to live in His presence for all eternity.

SUMMARY

When I described each person, did the physical appearance ever make a difference as to who they ended up becoming? Did physical appearance have anything to do with the person’s identity? 

(1)  Think:  

• Did age or gender make a difference?
• Did all of their ‘current’ jobs, tasks, labels or titles ever define who they would end up becoming?
• Did their history determine their future?

(2)  The heart is the start and most important part:  

• From examples in this game and everyone we read about in the Bible, what matters most is the heart. 

CONCLUSION: GAME’S OVER; NOW WHAT? REAL LIFE STARTS.

(1)  Examine yourself:  

• If I were to write a description about you and share it with someone else, would that person picture you?
• Is the current description of you the person you want to be in the future?
• What do you care about most in life?
• What are your short-term and long-term goals?
• What are your dreams?
• Who do you want to become?
• You need to know your identity. Otherwise, people will tell you who you are and you just might believe them. 

(2)  Examine others:  

• Are you judging someone by their appearance instead of looking at their heart?
• Do you even know enough about someone to write a description about that person’s heart?
• If you don’t know a person well enough to write a description about that person’s heart, then you don’t truly know who they are.

REAL LIFE APPLICATION

Pastor Steve Fender from Livingway Church of San Antonio, Texas once shared with me one of the most amazing testimonies I’ve ever heard. After an alter call at one of Steve’s services, a man by the name of Ernest had asked Steve to talk to him and pray with him. Eventually, Ernest confessed to being a Mexican mafia hitman and that he had killed a lot of people. Ernest asked if GOD would still accept him because of all the murders he had committed and pastor Steve told Ernest that no one is too far gone to be saved. Pastor Steve asked Ernest to lift up his hands in surrender to GOD; Ernest told Steve that he would, but only if Steve would hold his shirt down so that no one would see his gun while his arms were up. Ernest — a hitman with a loaded gun in church service — gave his life to Christ that day and eventually led many other people to Christ. One day, Ernest was shot while walking the streets. When pastor Steve arrived at the scene, Ernest was face down on the ground, already dead. In Ernest’s hand appeared to be a gun; however, it was a copy of the New Testament. The world labeled Ernest as a murderer; Ernest proclaimed himself to be a murderer at one point; however, Ernest was made new in Christ and was called to be a preacher. Ernest’s title of ‘hitman’ wasn’t his true identity. And once Ernest realized his real identity, he received his true calling and his true title. Repentance and faith bring salvation. Despite his past, Ernest was a preacher and that is how we should remember him.

CALL TO ACTION:

(1)  Perhaps you genuinely desire to have a relationship with GOD, but you are guilty of judging people by their appearances. If that’s you, repent and ask GOD to help you see people in the loving way He sees them. “GOD, remove the veil of lies from my eyes! Open my eyes to see Truth! Help me to see people as you see them!”

(2)  Perhaps you don’t judge people by their appearances and assume the worst of them, but you do distance yourself from people who seem questionable. If that’s you, ask GOD to cast out fear and to fill you with the love and courage necessary to go introduce yourself to those people. You just might introduce yourself to someone who needs love the most.

(3) Perhaps you view yourself as the person who has only been judged by his/her appearance. Is it possible that you’ve closed yourself off and have prevented people from establishing relationships with you because you’re afraid of getting hurt? If that’s you, open yourself up again and allow people to get to know who you truly are. If possible, link up with someone else and then together go introduce yourselves to someone else.

(4)  Perhaps you just found yourself here but you’re not a committed follower of Christ. If that’s you, perhaps it’s time to get to know the One who died for you. Perhaps it’s time to get to know the GOD who desires to have a relationship with the person He created. GOD created you for a purpose. If you want to discover that purpose and know more, let it be known to GOD. Seek and you will find.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, please inundate our hearts and convict us of the truth. Please open our eyes and help us to see beyond the superficial surface and to dive deep into the depth of Truth. Open our minds and enable us to see true identity beyond the facade of the face or the build of the body. Help us to love people the way you love them. I proclaim in the name of Jesus, the person reading this will discover his/her true identity in You. 

Whatever Floats Your Boat

---

If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

---

Countless times I have heard someone tell me, “Do whatever floats your boat.” Essentially, this saying means that people should do whatever makes them happy. But is that truly good advice? Should you do whatever floats your boat? Is the pursuit of happiness equal to the pursuit of purpose? The book of Ecclesiastes alone showcases how the pursuit of pleasure is “vanity,” meaningless, or merely smoke; however, multiple celebrities have revealed that pursuing pleasure will never be enough to live out purpose.

A harbor can be a noun or a verb. A harbor is a part of a body of water along the shore deep enough for anchoring a ship. But to harbor is also to keep or hold in the mind. Relate “harbor” with bad thoughts and negativity. You are the boat. If you harbor (keep in your mind) the bad thoughts, then the boat (you) will harbor (will remain anchored and without movement). But should a boat remain anchored? Boats are made for sailing, not sitting. You are not meant to keep negativity or evil in your mind and remain idle. All the bad you keep in your mind will anchor you and tie you down to your past and prevent you from sailing into your future. A floater’s future isn’t much different than the floater’s present. Is that much of a future? Let go of the bad. How can you grasp onto anything new and good while your hands are still full of the bad of which you refuse to let go? Let go and sail! It is better to sink after sailing than to forever float after being anchored in the harbor.

Like the horse in the picture (above), Moses believed he was confined to one area in life. In fact, the Israelites under Egyptian control also believed they had been confined to only one area in life. Many people are like the horse tied to a lightweight plastic chair. Many people don’t even realize that they are free to go because they believe they are tied to something that’s preventing them from moving forward. Understand this: the Adversary wants you to be idle; the enemy wants you to merely float. Why? Because a boat in the harbor is not a boat out in the sea; a horse tied to a chair is not a horse that goes into all nations, delivering good news.

“But Moses protested to God, ‘Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?’ ”
(Exodus 3:11) -NLT

“But Moses protested again, ‘What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, “The Lord never appeared to you!”?’ Then the Lord asked him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A shepherd’s staff,’ Moses replied. ‘Throw it down on the ground,’ the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.”
(Exodus 4:1-3) -NLT

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have or what you don’t have. GOD asked Moses what he had and Moses told him he only had a stick. But GOD used that stick to create a miracle! And that staff became his measuring stick of faith; in fact, that’s probably one of the reasons why he always carried it with him. Every time Moses looked at that staff, he remembered GOD’s power. How close was Moses to a miracle? So close he could touch it! So close, in fact, that the miracle had been with him the whole time – he had been holding on to his miracle! Has your miracle been with you the whole time? All we need to do is move toward GOD (James 4:8) and GOD will prove that all things are possible through Him (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27). All Moses had to do was allow GOD inside in order for the miracle to be activated. Eventually, no matter how afraid or hesitant Moses felt, deep down inside he knew that GOD creates possibilities and all he had to do was to continue progressing forward in faith. All he had to do was make a decision to allow GOD to cut him loose from the Adversary’s anchor, the deadweight of doubt and feeling of fear.

Never tell yourself, “I can’t.” Instead, tell yourself, “I will try.” If you fail, never tell yourself, “I quit.” Instead, tell yourself, “I will try again.“ Never ask yourself, “Who am I? What difference can I make?” Instead, tell yourself, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world” (1John 4:4).

Some people need to set themselves free from themselves. If you have been struggling with doubt, fear, or addictions, know that you possess the power to walk away in the name of Jesus. You can walk away at any time. In the name of Jesus, by the power of GOD, you will no longer be bound to your addiction(s) and you will no longer be steered by your affliction(s). Proclaim your freedom, believe it, and simply walk away from it. We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Give the addiction(s) and affliction(s) to GOD and allow Christ inside of you in order to activate your miracle.

In his book “Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story,” the late 1990’s and early 2000’s rock star, Brian ‘Head’ Welch walked away completely clean and sober after he had asked Jesus to take it all away from him so that he could live the right way. With GOD, all things are possible.

Consider again the horse and the plastic chair. If the horse in the picture were to walk away, the blue chair would follow behind it. But either one of four things would most likely happen:

1. The horse would realize that the chair is tied to it and then begrudgingly accept that the chair is just the way of life and there’s nothing it can do except drag the chair everywhere it goes;
2. the horse would get spooked by the chair and run; it would run long enough only to exhaust itself, never breaking free from the torment of the chair;
3. the horse would get spooked and run; it would run long enough that it would eventually break loose from the chair yet still end up exhausted and probably end up in a location it never desired to go, or;
4. the owner of the horse would care enough to calm the horse and help the horse see the chair for what it really is: it’s mere deadweight that needs to be cut loose; furthermore, the chair possesses no real power.

Some people believe their anchors are just the way of life and there’s nothing that can be done about it. Some people exhaust themselves by their own efforts. Some people allow that which drags behind them to steer them toward an undesired destination due to fear. Understand this: you can walk away from your addiction(s)! The addiction(s) may follow you, but until you allow the Owner (GOD) to cut that deadweight loose, you will only exhaust yourself by your own efforts. Freedom does require action. You have to move. Like Lot, you must decide to walk away and not look back (Genesis 19:26). But when we walk away, we do not just aimlessly wander like the Israelites did for 40 years (Joshua 5:6). We need to walk toward the Owner so He can cut the deadweight loose. Walk with Jesus – nothing evil can stay with you if you are with Jesus because Jesus casts evil out. You simply cannot dwell in the darkness if you walk with Jesus because Jesus is the the Light (John 8:12). Ask GOD to take it from you. GOD will provide a way of escape if you seek Him (1Corinthians 10:13). Proclaim it: you are free from your addiction(s) and you can overcome your affliction(s)! May it be so. Amen.

The person that holds you back is often yourself. More often than not, the chains that bind you are mental and not physical. And if you don’t want to take my word for it, listen to Nick Vujicic. Nick was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, which is a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. Nick has no arms and no legs! Yet despite his physical condition, GOD helped Nick break the mental chains that tried to bind him and now he’s a motivational speaker who inspires people all throughout the world.
(After you finish this message, watch Nick’s message, “Learn To Live The Life God Has Called You To” and then set sail! But first finish this message.)

Before Moses ever led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the parting of the Red Sea, he lived with doubt and fear as his anchors that held him in the harbor. Moses didn’t believe he could accomplish anything of significance. At that time, he believed he was just a man with a speech impediment and a regrettable past. Consequently, Moses stayed where he was at in life. He had been a floater.

Don’t allow your mental hangups to tie you down and prevent you from sailing for the Savior. Are you anchored in the harbor? Are you only floating while merely existing? Don’t you realize that boats are meant to sail? I’ll say it again: it is better to sink after sailing than to forever float after being anchored in the harbor. It is better to sail for the Savior than to be anchored by the Adversary. Don’t be a floater. Sail, boat! Sail!

Some people have been anchored in agony due to addictions and afflictions; however, some people have been docked in the Dead Sea due to selfish decisions. Some people don’t want to sail because they’re only concerned about themselves. Some people are only concerned about keeping their own boats afloat; they only care about whatever floats their boats.

Those who float are in the Dead Sea. Though I am speaking of the Dead Sea figuratively, the actual physical location of the Dead Sea can help to understand the metaphorical sea of the dead. The Dead Sea’s unusually high salt concentration (about 33%) means that people can easily float due to natural buoyancy. But just as its name indicates, this sea is dead because the high concentration of salt prevents life such as fish, birds, and plants from living in it. The Dead Sea’s high concentration of salt is due to it having no outlets. Whatever water finds its way in will never find its way out; the water evaporates and the white of the salt remains.

Are you figuratively floating in the Dead Sea? Those who refuse to set sail for the Savior merely float in the Dead Sea. Those who continue to take and never give have no outlet. Without an outlet, you will come to nothing, leaving only the white of your bones behind. Don’t you realize we are more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)?

We are not called to be Couch Potato Christians, Blue Cord Bums, or faithless floaters. Many people know that Jesus told Peter and Andrew that if they followed Him, He would make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10). People also know that Peter and Andrew left everything and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:20; Mark 1:18; Luke 5:11). Their decision to leave everything they knew and follow Jesus was the moment they decided to stop being floaters and to set sail for the Savior. By becoming disciples of Jesus, Peter and Andrew left their comfort zones in order to set sail into the sea of the lost to become fishers of men. However, many people fail to recognize an important part of this story which happened right before Peter and Andrew left everything to follow Jesus. Examine Luke 5:1-11 (NLT):

“One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. ² He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’ ^{5 ‘}Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ ⁶ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! ⁷ A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. ⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.’ ⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. ¹⁰ His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!’ ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.“

Jesus used Peter’s boat! Peter allowed Jesus into his boat! Peter was a fisherman and he needed his boat in order to catch fish. By Peter allowing Jesus into his boat, he allowed Jesus access to his livelihood. Verse 4 is the important part: Peter was instructed to go out where it was deeper in order to catch fish. When placed in proper perspective with verse 10, we can see that disciples must be willing to go out where it’s deeper in order to catch those who are lost. But we simply cannot do that if we are anchored or tied up at the dock, merely floating in the Dead Sea. We must set sail! And take note that verse 7 shows us that relationships matter and teamwork works. Without the other boat and teammates, Peter’s boat would have gone under.

Jesus had called Peter and Andrew (and even Paul later on) to leave the faithless life of being a floater in order to risk sinking after sailing (Luke 5:7; 2Corinthians 11:25). Jesus called them to leave what they considered to be their way of life (comfort) for a better way of life (calling). Jesus called them to leave their productive trade in order to be productive spiritually. We all need to fish for lost souls, but we can’t do that unless we risk sailing for the Savior. Jesus’ call challenged the men to leave everything — immediately. They didn’t make excuses about timing, ability, or comfort. They left everything and followed Jesus. And Jesus calls each of us to follow Him. Jesus called the disciples to fish for the lost as if they were fishing for food necessary for their own survival – that’s what Jesus meant when He commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39)! The Gospel is like the net, lifting people from the depths of dark waters into the light of day and transforming their lives. Remember: in order to make a catch, you must go out where it’s deeper. We must set sail. We must not be a faithless floater in the Dead Sea.

I challenge you: Seek GOD and He will provide a way of escape. Jesus can cut you loose from the Adversary’s anchor(s). Do not float in your comfort zone. Dead men float. Satan wants you to be a floater because he does not want you to be active in the sea of those who need to be saved. We are the Righteous League and the fishers of the lost! We are children of GOD, not children who are damned to the Dead Sea of selfishness. Don’t step foot in the Dead Sea ship; rather, choose relationship, discipleship, and worship! Sail, boat! Sail! We either sail for the Savior or remain stagnant, get stuck in the bitter salty sea of sin and eventually sink with Satan in his final sentencing. It is better to capsize for Christ than to dock in the Dead Sea and satisfy Satan by remaining stationary. Don’t listen to those who will invite you into the Dead Sea – there’s no outlet – they all float and you’ll float too!

REMEMBER: Watch Nick’s message, “Learn To Live The Life God Has Called You To” and then set sail for the Savior!

Superhero: Never Give Up

 

---

If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

---

This is Part 9 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty.

---

But what good would it do for a superhero to start traveling the extra mile journey if he/she quits halfway through? If we make a commitment to go the extra mile, then we need to follow through and see that we go the distance to complete the second mile. In this message (Part 9), we will see that superheroes might get tripped up and fall down. Superheroes might even get beaten up and knocked down, but they do not stay down! Superheroes never give up! To help us understand this message, let’s examine two examples from real life situations: boxing and racing.

Boxing: Get Back Up!

Muhammad Ali, who is arguably the greatest boxer of all time, said, “You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.” One of the greatest victories I’ve ever seen was in the 2005 boxing match of Corrales vs. Castillo. Corrales got knocked down twice in the 10th round, only to get back up and walk away as the winner:

Another one of my favorite boxing matches was the 1990 match of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas. Tyson was undefeated and had a 42-0 record. Douglas – the obvious underdog – was knocked down in the 8th round and didn’t even get back up until it was almost too late at the 9-second mark. But in the 10th round, Douglas managed to knock Tyson down and out for the win.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
(2Corinthians 4:8-10) –NIV

We are not impervious to attacks from the enemy. We’re going to get tripped up and fall down. We’re going to get beat up and knocked down. Unless you’re Rocky Marciano or Floyd Mayweather, you’re going to experience a loss at some point in your life. But truth be told, even if you are undefeated in life, you can still lose in death. Are you living life in preparation for death? Rocky Marciano died on August 31, 1969 (the eve of his 46th birthday) in a plane crash. Did Marciano go to Heaven or Hell? Only GOD knows. But even conquerers in life can end up being conquered in death. And this is why it is of utmost importance that we never give up and finish the race well. And if I could tell Floyd Mayweather and anyone else currently undefeated only one thing, I would share this:

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
(Luke 9:25) -ESV

Those who are motivated by money or propelled by the pursuit for power typically stay down if the winnings of their worldly ways comes to an end and they experience a loss. Because if your treasure is only found in this world, you are destined for disappointment.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21) -ESV

Where is your heart? If you know your ‘why,’ then you will refuse to lose, you will get back up, and you will never give up. In a post-fight interview with Buster Douglas, it was later revealed that he won the fight against Mike Tyson because his ‘why’ was more powerful than Tyson’s punches. Only 23 days before the legendary fight took place that took Tyson’s “0” and gave him a “1” in his losses, Douglas’ mother died. Before she died, she told Douglas that he was going to beat Mike Tyson. Simply put, love is what won the fight for Douglas. And truth be told, love is what we need to persevere! Love compels us to get back up and never give up. In the amazing 2005 movie, Cinderella Man, based on the boxer, James Walter Braddock, there’s a scene where the press is asking him why he’s winning fights. Russell Crowe (Braddock) states he knows what he’s fighting for: milk. The motivation behind the action was love for his family. This movie showcases the power of the ‘why.’

Racing: Finish The Race!
A man by the name of John Stephen Akhwari represented Tanzania in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He wounded his knee and dislocated a joint in a fall, but he got back up and continued the race. He finished last place. By the time he crossed the finish line, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already gone home. When later interviewed and asked why he continued running, he said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

It was the greatest last place finish ever! John Stephen Akhwari didn’t come in first place in that race; however, he was a winner because he finished the race! There are many people in this world who do not finish the race. In fact, suicide prevents many people from finishing the race. Too many people give up before reaching the finish line.

This world teaches that in order to win we must be first or the greatest. But is that true? Even if you are the last person to arrive in Heaven, you still achieved what others who never arrived never achieved. Last place can most certainly be the best finish. In fact, Jesus told us that those who are now last would be first and the first would be last (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). Jesus also told us that If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).

When John Stephen Akhwari finally finished the race, it was dark outside and most of the audience had already left. And so it is with life. The majority of people that will be around when you start the race might not be there when you finish. Also, people typically only want to be with you during your greatest moments and tend to disappear during your struggles. And when that happens, it may feel like it’s dark outside and the empty bleachers might make you feel as if no one cares. But the people who truly care about you will stay with you while you are down, struggling, and out of the spotlight. But even if you feel alone and abandoned, know that love will help you finish the race so that you may finish well. Be encouraged: Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him when He got arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). But Jesus’ love for others was the ‘why’ that compelled Him to finish what He started (John 19:30).

As I have written before in one of my songs, I don’t care to win over the crowd – I’m fulfilling all that I have vowed. With or without audience applause, I’m going to do what I do because I do it for the cause. Love compels me to continue and because of that, I care to finish the race so that I may finish well.

I am grateful for John Stephen Akhwari and for many other people like him for being an inspiration and reminding me of what is truly important in life. Indeed, the struggle is real, but our GOD is greater than our problems. What’s truly important is finishing well.

I may not be the best at anything or ever receive praise for any of my efforts, but if I get knocked down, I will always get back up after I fall. I will not stay down. And even if I get injured along the way, I will finish the marathon that is known as life! GOD did not bring me here to merely start my journey – GOD brought me here to finish the race and to finish well! It doesn’t matter how long it will take me to cross the finish line. The goal is to do my best until my last breath.

Persistence, Purpose, Endurance, Eternity:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(2Timothy 4:7) -ESV

The apostle Paul wrote these words near the end of his life. These three statements reflect Paul’s struggles in preaching the Gospel of Christ and his victory over those struggles. In the 1st century, the Romans celebrated both the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games. Competitors would spend up to ten months in demanding and difficult physical training. Because the Corinthians were familiar with these events, Paul used the games as an analogy for a believer’s life of faithfulness. He wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1Corinthians 9:24-25). Paul’s exhortation is that believers should be as focused and dedicated as those ancient runners in the games. Our motivation in serving Christ is much higher; we “run” not for a temporary crown, but for an eternal one. So, by declaring “I have finished the race,” Paul told Timothy that he had put every effort into the work of proclaiming the Gospel. He had completed the course set before him; he had left nothing undone; he did his best. He was ready to cross the finish line into Heaven. And to finish the race well is to experience victory.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(Hebrews 12:1-2) -ESV

If we are to finish well, we will need persistence with purpose and endurance for eternity. First, we need purposeful persistence in prayer. In seeking GOD’s will, we will find all we need:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
(Matthew 7:7-11) -ESV

But here is the special stipulation to this promise:

“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
(James 4:2-3) -ESV

Our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. But knowing GOD takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will. We should be asking ourselves three important questions while being persistent in our prayers:

1. What are you asking for?
2. Why are you asking for it?
3. Will it benefit the Kingdom of GOD?

In order to finish the race well, we also need endurance. In fact, GOD calls us to endure until the end. Each of the seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation contained a promise to the “victor.” In order to receive the promises, you must be a victor. How do we become a victor? Stay in alignment with GOD’s Word and His absolute moral standard! Keep the faith and endure until the end! The only way to be a victor is to fight the good fight, endure it until the end, and finish the race. Everyone who finishes the race will be exhausted, but they will also come into rest. Just as GOD rested from His work on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2), we too will come into rest on our ‘seventh day.’ We can picture this life here on Earth as our six days of work and the New Earth under the new heavens will be our seventh day of rest. Everything we accomplish in life here on this Earth within our ‘six days’ falls short of perfection. It is only in our ‘seventh day’ that we will come into perfection and receive rest. Along with the good news of Christ’s return and ultimate victory, the main theme found in the book of Revelation running parallel to the good news is that we must endure until the very end, remaining faithful and obedient (Matthew 10:28; 1Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:14-16; 1Timothy 6:11-16; 2Timothy 4:3-5; Hebrews 10:35-39; 2Peter 1:5-11; Revelation 3:16).

Conclusion:
Remember: opportunistic predators wait until either you are too weak to fight or complacent and cannot see the attack coming. Demons don’t need to beat you while you are at your best; rather, demons simply need to slowly chip away at your defense until you become too tired and weak to defend yourself.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
(1Peter 5:6-10) -ESV

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
(James 4:7-8) -ESV

Satan only cares about the outcome, the final decision. Do not give up. Do not ever give up. We are in it to win it. It’s not over until it’s over. We must finish well. Starting is pointless unless we finish. We must fight the good fight. Get back up, go back in. Love never dies (1Corinthians 13:8).

GOD passionately pursues us with the mission of relentless rescue. And if we are to accurately reflect the love of Christ, we need to go above and beyond in love and endure until the end.

“Bow down to the Lord. He will lift you up.”
(James 4:10) –NIRV

“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:14-21) -NLT

The person who kneels humbly before GOD can stand up confidently in the name of Christ and resist the devil and watch him flee. GOD provides us with a way to escape temptations and to live through any circumstance until He calls us Home (1Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:11-13). Never give up!

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
(Galatians 6:9) -NLT

Listen! If I can’t inspire you, then I’ll just let Shia LaBeouf do it: