A C H I E V E M E N T

How many Hall of Fame members or All Americans end their athletic careers without the ultimate championship for which they had hoped and competed? Certainly the number is staggering, just think of the great competitors from your sport who never won a championship. They and many others had stellar careers, but had one achievement left undone. The Bible speaks of such hope unfulfilled.

Hebrews 11 and verses 39 and 40 says, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided some thing better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” These melancholy words follow 38 verses that list the names and accomplishments of the Bible’s Hall of Fame.

There is a key element for a life of achievement that we can draw from this passage. Though these great people had their lives come to a close without the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams, they were faithful and now enjoy rich, fulfilling life with us in Christ.

Similarly, when you consider the Hall of Famers and All Americans from your sport, many of them finished with goals unachieved and aspirations unattained. Like the Bible’s Hall of Famers, they too join in our achievements and our successes. They find great satisfaction in watching you compete and seeing you succeed.

As you compete today, give your absolute best effort and you’ll be a great part of fulfilling the unrealized portions of your predecessors’ careers.