Last night I attended my granddaughter’s track and field practice. It was at a nice facility, and I was happy she was able to participate. She loves to run and eagerly did everything her coach told her to do. Even with all their efforts, her team didn’t appear to be ready for the upcoming track meet. They had only practiced for a couple a weeks and had just one more practice before the competition.
I appreciate the coaches for organizing the team and parents for supporting their children. Many parents have busy lives, yet they added one more activity for their children’s sake. Were they hoping to create a future Olympian or star athlete? I doubt it. With the level of effort going into this activity, I don’t think they are trying to win. This was just another activity. After the competition, everyone will be thanked for their efforts and will move on to the next activity.
Too many people treat GOD as just another activity they add to their busy lives for their children’s sake. I appreciate the work that goes into providing a place to worship and learn about JESUS and parents who take their children to Church. Are they hoping to discover another Billy Graham or start them off on a religious vocation? I doubt it. With the level of effort their children may not even be saved. They check their religious box and move on to the next activity.
If they truly care about their children, training is a full-time job. It begins at home and never ends. The stakes are too high. There are no days off and the season doesn’t end until they are in Heaven. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6 KJV). The best training you can give a child is to be a living example of a Christian.
Even with all of that emphasis on training, success is only made possible by GOD’s grace. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). Once this life ends, you can say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8). If your children accept JESUS, they will be in Heaven with you. So you see, this is more than just another activity.
Wayne Lance (2017)