Our Giants have been Faced, and Defeated

This video clip was shared with me and others today in an effort to motivate Christians to excel and overcome themselves and the obstacles put in their way. From a physical standpoint it can inspire and encourage. However, it could be detrimental when we try to apply it to the Christian life. When I watched the first thing that came to mind was not the Christian life, but Jesus Christ. Here is my perspective. I hope it inspires and encourages you in a different way.

I see this video as a good depiction of a few things about Jesus Christ. The first is when Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11;28)." How many Christians see the Christian life as... being on of crawling on all fours with a 160lb weight on our back for 100 yards? We are burdened with having to carry the weight of our sins and trying to be obedient and repentant all in an effort to please God and be blessed by Him. That is not a "light" burden. The burden is lifted in knowing we are forgiven, we are not under law and that we have already been blessed with everything we need.

The Second truth I see is that the player went the length of the field blind-folded. Jesus said, ""Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29)." When the player didn't see the yard lines, he was able to go way beyond what he had done in the past. When we focus on Jesus and what He has done for us and promised us through faith, we can get our eyes off of ourselves and the obstacles placed before us. We have already reached the "end zone" because of His work, not ours. We have eternal life, are more than conquerors and have overcome the world because of what Jesus did for us. The moment we accepted Him by faith we were placed in the "end zone" for eternity. All Him and none of us.

The last thing we can take from this video is a lesson in God's discipline. When the player was called out by His coach to do the "death crawl," he thought it was punishment. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:5-6)." God allows us to endure the struggles of this life, not as punishment or condemnation, but as preparation for a future event. The team in the video had a game ahead of them. The discipline enforced on the player was to prepare him for the task ahead. It may have felt like punishment, but it wasn't. There is no condemnation for believers and we have been rescued from the wrath of God. Our struggles draw us into a deeper understanding of who we are in Christ and what He has already given us through faith. Therefore, I encourage you to look at this video not as what you can do in Christ, but what Christ has already done for you. Be blessed.