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Religion: 'Run the race to the finish line'

Everyone loves to win. That's been evidenced in our county in the last couple of weeks, hasn't it? I want to commend the residents of the county for the wonderful backing of the Gallatin County Hawks basketball team. My family and I got caught up in the excitement that goes along with winning. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, as long as winning does not become such an obsession that winning is all that matters.

I want to personally congratulate Coach Doug Miller, his staff and the Hawks players for the wonderful run toward the IHSA state championship. I believe everyone would agree with me. Oh, a lot of us "Monday morning" coaches might have all kinds of suggestions about what could have been done to win that sectional title. But the bottom line is that the Hawks made a wonderful showing in the tournament!

There is something else, however, that I would like to bring to your attention in this article. I want to also commend the coaches and the team for their demeanor on the basketball court in every game that I had the opportunity to see.

From where I sat, the rapport between the coaches and the team seemed very good. I enjoyed seeing the encouragement (and, at times, the correction) the players were given as they came out of the game. I especially appreciated the welcome given by Coach Miller and his staff to the players – win or lose – when they came to the bench in the closing minutes of the game.

These young men worked hard while they were in the game. Each one seemed to understand that the success of the entire team would be determined by the way he carried out his assignment. I loved the way they played together as a team.

The Hawks played by the rules. They were not constant complainers who thought they were being treated unfairly. They played the game and did not give up until the last buzzer sounded. And, if they were on the losing end, they conducted themselves with sportsmanlike conduct even though they hated losing.

I can remember my daughters losing an important regional contest and being quite upset. I spoke to Natalie about it. Her answer to me was: "Dad, I can be a good sport. But I don't have to like losing." Nobody does! But after the records are broken and the trophies have gathered dust or been misplaced, the bottom line is this: What has playing sports taught you about life?

And, yes, I do have a scripture reference that gives a spiritual lesson about this. "If anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:5)

God is concerned about the way we live our lives. It is important that we live by the standards that He has set in His word. I'm not talking about living simply by a bunch of rules and regulations. I'm talking about living to please the one who has created us and has given His life to save us.

Just like an athlete who plays hard until the last buzzer, Christ wants us to compete all the way to the end and run the race to the finish line. Paul said it this way:  "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Wow! Talk about winning! It's my prayer that the young men and women who participate in any type of athletics will learn the valuable lessons taught in the Bible, as well as some from competion. There will be wins and there will be losses. But the real winner in life is the one who endures to the end as he or she follows the only one who can ultimately lead us to victory through both the wins and losses – Jesus Christ.

Remember. We are studying the Book of Revelation at First Baptist on Sundays at 6 p.m.