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Dropping
the Baton
Races
are often won or lost in the transfer zone...
The
transfer zone is the region in which a baton is to be
passed from one teammate to another in a relay race.
The
U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s 4x100-meter relay
teams both know the pain of losing a race in the
transfer zone. Both
teams dropped the baton in the relays on Thursday
night thus disqualifying themselves and failing to
advance out of the first round.
First,
men’s anchor Tyson Gay, part of the American team
that won the relay at last year’s world
championships, did not complete the transfer of the
baton from third-leg runner Darvis Patton.
Then,
about 25 minutes later, Torri Edwards and women’s
anchor Lauryn Williams failed to make the transfer
between the third and final legs of their race.
Their baton also dropped to the ground.
Thus
both teams of these would-be contenders saw their
dreams for the gold medal drop to the ground.
But
these tremendous athletes are not the only ones who
have “dropped the baton.”
We ALL
have!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Having sinned, we are disqualified and our
dreams of gold are unachievable through our own
efforts, no matter how hard we have trained.
In
the Olympics, when a team drops the baton, they are
out of the race, definitely disqualified.
But in life, because of God’s great love for
us, even when we drop the baton, by God’s grace we
can get back in the race.
The
U.S. men’s relay team stopped racing when the baton
was dropped, but Lauryn Williams scrambled back on the
wet track to pick up the baton and finish the race for
the women. “I
had to finish the race,” she later told a reporter.
The official Olympic record will only note that
the team was disqualified – not that they completed
the race. However,
Williams illustrates the opportunity that we have
because of Christ to be victorious.
In
the Christian race, it’s not the one who crosses the
finish line FIRST, but ALL those who finish the race
who share in the victory – and the victory is all
because of Jesus!
Jesus
died on the cross so that we might have forgiveness
for “dropping the baton.”
And, when we respond to Him on His terms – believing
in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our
sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Him
before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized
(immersed) in His name (Acts 2:38) – we can “get
back in the race.”
Then, keeping our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:1-2),
we must strive to “carry the baton” faithfully,
recognizing that He will lead us to victory (1 John
1:7; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58).
YOU
have dropped
the baton, but you don’t have to remain
disqualified.
Accept
Jesus’ offer of salvation on His terms today and
share in His victory!
--
David
A. Sargent, & Ricky Butts
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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