Temporal

As I’ve been watching the Summer Olympics in Beijing, one thought keeps crossing my mind. These athletes have spent years training, hoping, and preparing for this competition. What happens when it’s over? For those who have been fortunate to win, there may be the promise of multi-million dollar endorsement contracts, opportunities to set up their own training facilities, and/or a chance to be a sports commentator at a future Olympic or World Championship event.

But what about those who lose? They put their dreams to win, to bring prestige to themselves and to their country, above all else. Their identities are locked into their abilities to achieve. What have they to look forward to when their hopes come crashing down in that split second it takes for someone else to be victorious?

That’s why it’s so important to remember we live in a temporal world. Things here will fail, fade, and fall away. If we put all our hopes into this world, we will be crushed at some point by defeat since this world can’t possibly meet all of our expectations. We will find it difficult to rise above our heartbreaks because we lack a purpose for tomorrow.

As a Christian our hope is not in today. It is in Christ who promises us eternity with Him. And since our hope is for tomorrow, we should be praying for thoughts and dreams that align more with God’s will than our own. Then when our goals fail here on earth, we will be reminded that a glorious future awaits us.

Don’t get caught up in the temporary. Look for the eternal that far outshines any medals, rewards, or prestige we will ever attain in this world.