Greater Promise

You’re seeing glimpses of what you can be as an athlete and it’s exciting to experience competitive growth. But is it just about improving, achieving and winning? If so, that feeling of excitement might not last for long. 

The world promises fame, success and status, but it’s a mirage that leaves us empty and hollow when the lights of the world’s success have faded and we are left in a hard season of struggle. Sure, it’s exciting when the spotlight’s on us and the roar of the crowd is amping up before the big game. But what about long after the stadium is empty, and the lights are turned off? Those fans who chanted our name won’t remember us once our season has passed, and those same voices lifting you up when success was yours will cease to speak when you need words to lift you up.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in your sport but doing so can leave you empty. More than anything you can find through athletic success, God wants to give you the greater promise that comes from Jesus. 

IN THE LIGHT

As Jesus began His ministry, many religious leaders were anxious about his arrival. Most of them didn’t like the idea that someone else was greater than them. Except for a few. 

Nicodemus’ identity was wrapped up in his job and in his status. Nicodemus felt the pressure to perform, but what he really need was the Truth. Until that point, Nicodemus knew all about God but didn’t truly know Him. Fixating on the rules of his religion prevented him from having a relationship. But Jesus showed Nicodemus the light of Truth and revealed a greater promise of eternal life. 

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” -John 3:16–18

Nicodemus came to Jesus in the cover of darkness, but spiritually, he was about to step into the light thanks to these powerful words:

“This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” -John 3:19–21

That night, Nicodemus stepped into the light of God’s promise. After meeting Jesus, he was no longer wrapped up in what he could do, but instead was compelled to see what God could do through him and for God’s glory. 

Are we willing to step out of the world’s spotlight and into the light of God’s promise?

This is the greater promise, that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to become human like us. Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t, and He showed us the way to the Father (Acts 4:12). Obedient and humble, His focus remained on the eternal Kingdom brought to earth, and took the sins of the world upon Himself as He hung on the cross. Then God brought Him back in defeat of death so we are no longer separated from God but can be with Him forever. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way to the love of God and brought us into freedom, light, and eternal life (John 3:16). 

Here are three amazing things that Jesus’s Greater Promise will bring:

Greater Love. You’ll do anything to keep playing the sport you love. There’s so much enjoyment and benefit you can gain through athletic competition. But through Jesus, there’s something even better—a sacrificial love that will last forever! Out of this love we can be confident that we have the approval of God, no matter how we do on the court or field. This frees us up to play for the love of it, not to be worried about our performance but to enjoy the pureness of the game.

“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” -John 15:9 

Greater Gift. Your athletic ability is a gift, but it can only bring you so much happiness before it’s gone. Thankfully, God has a greater gift that will last forever! In Jesus, we are reminded of what He has given us—eternal life as well as life in full here on earth. This should fill us with joy, and everything we say or do comes from an overflow of this gift. God’s gifted you with your athletic talent; how you use it is your gift back to God.

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” -John 3:17

Greater Identity. Competition takes on a whole new meaning when you find your identity in Christ and not others’ expectations or what the world says. It gets good when you begin to experience the fullness of being part of God’s family and the plans He has for your life.

“But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be[a] children of God, to those who believe in his name.” -John 1:12

Remember: Christ’s promise of salvation gives me a new identity. 

Yes, our identity can quickly wrap up in the attention of others, but our true identity we joyfully wear is the death and resurrection of Jesus. We may get tangled in the things of this world that quickly fade, but the great news is that God created you for something more and we can live in and play from that promise!

Our goal is to always come back to this:

“’He must increase, but I must decrease.’” -John 3:30