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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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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
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