Once again, we find ourselves at the doorway of a brand-new year. Upon reflection, nothing can be done to change what happened in 2022. Now, facing a brand new future, we face making decisions about how we will live in 2023. The persistent challenge of reflecting on past choices and identifying better options that remind me of the Apostle Paul’s teaching about how we should live our lives.
In Paul’s New Testament writings, he often used athletic language to point out spiritual truth. He frequently communicated with people familiar with sports but had little or no knowledge of Christian teachings. So, Paul used sports language as a tool to help them understand spiritual truth.
For example, in Hebrews 12:1, he makes reference to running a spiritual race. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV). In 2023 we have choices to make. We can be trapped by choose the ways of the world, or we can faithfully choose God’s Truth.
Later, in Philippians 2:16, Paul offers us encouragement that we don’t have to make our choices by ourselves or that we don’t have to carry out those choices under our power. “Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:16). God will work in us so that we make the choices pleasing to Him, and that He will empower us to carry through with those choices. We will seek and do His will with His help.
Toward the end of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to his spiritual son, Timothy. Paul summarized his life using familiar sports language. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He challenges us to make life choices using this same standard. Paul wants us to make choices so that at life’s end, we can know our earthly life has pleased God.
To stand in God’s winner’s circle at the end of this earthly life, you must play the game by God’s rules. At the end of life, when you stand before Him, He will not measure you by how much money you have, the size of your car, or how many rooms are in your house. Making it to God’s winner’s circle requires that you play the game according to His rules. What standard will you choose to live your life?
The question is, will you be making choices for 2023 to live your life in a way that benefits you and are pleasing to the Lord?