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<\/p>\nThe summer Olympics are over.\u00a0 There were many winners and many losers.\u00a0 But there are some who didn\u2019t win a single thing that are real winners in my book.\u00a0 Like Nikki Hamblin from New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino of the USA who both fell and then took time to help each other up to limp across the finish race. \u00a0In last place of course.\u00a0 These gals are the true gold medal winners in my opinion.<\/p>\n
And the losers\u2026some of whom won gold, but didn\u2019t conduct themselves in a gold medal manner.\u00a0 Maybe they should have received a rusty medal.<\/p>\n
It reminds us that GOD can and will judge winners and losers quite differently than we do.\u00a0 He sees things that we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
In the ancient Olympics, the winners won leaves woven into a wreath, or crown.\u00a0 Of course this kind of crown would wilt and fade eventually.\u00a0 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:25, \u201cEveryone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last<\/u>, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
He compared earthly crowns that fade with eternal crowns that don\u2019t.\u00a0 And Peter speaks of a crown of glory that will never fade away.\u00a0 It won\u2019t rust or be lost. \u00a0(1 Peter 5:4).<\/p>\n
Paul also talks about self-sacrificing discipline in order to receive a crown that will last forever and to not be disqualified for the prize.\u00a0 (1Co 9:22-27).<\/p>\n
The context is sharing the gospel, not losing salvation, which is a free gift. He is talking about getting certain rewards, which are mentioned often in the Bible.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know exactly what they will be like but be assured it will be a billion times better than a gold medal or any other thing of value here on earth.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t lie.\u00a0 It will be really worth it.<\/p>\n
So, how should we invest?<\/p>\n
Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:8: \u00a0\u201cNow there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day\u2014and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those who long for his appearing are longing for the next life. \u00a0And what we LONG for \u00a0determines what we INVEST in.\u00a0 And those that long for His appearing are investing in PEOPLE. \u00a0People will transfer over to the next life but our earthly possessions do not. Like Paul said, people were his crown on the other side.\u00a0 That\u2019s an investment that keeps going on and on forever.<\/p>\n
We have a choice in how we invest ourselves.\u00a0 We can either invest in the here and now or we can invest for the next life.\u00a0 If we spend our life and energy only on earthly things, we will lose our investment because this world is passing away.<\/p>\n
Our business, retirement fund, homes, furniture, jewelry, etc., are only temporary. If we live for these things, we will lose the investment value of our life.<\/p>\n
But if we spend our lives by investing in people, then we will keep our investment for eternity, because people are eternal.\u00a0\u00a0 They live on.<\/p>\n
Jim Elliot said: \u201cHe is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave his life as a missionary, martyred by the very people he was trying to help with the gospel. Some would say that his life was wasted.\u00a0 It was cut off when he was still young.\u00a0 But it was an investment.\u00a0 Many hundreds of people were challenged into missions by his life and death, and later the tribe was reached by others.<\/p>\n
Do we all need to be a martyr or a missionary or a preacher to reap eternal rewards? No, but we need to invest our physical life to reap eternal benefits from it.<\/p>\n
There are many ways to invest in eternity. Most people think of money, which can be used to invest in the eternal: church, missions, etc.\u00a0 But life mostly consists of time and effort with people, building relationships.\u00a0 Studying the word pays huge dividends as we obey it. \u00a0Investing in the church and her people\u2026sharing your life with people\u2026helping folks who are hurting.\u00a0 So many ways to get involved and invest in others!<\/p>\n
And we can\u2019t forget the 2500 people groups still without a Bible or the gospel in their own language.<\/p>\n
This is why we do what we do.\u00a0 Equipping the next generation of missionaries and Bible Teachers around the world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here’s some names that won’t be read on the evening news, like athletes or movie stars.\u00a0 But in God’s eyes they are famous and worthy of recognition:<\/p>\n
Degeya Kenepa<\/p>\n
Mekeria Kuriye<\/p>\n
Ayalu Kutuba<\/p>\n
Malia Yanda<\/p>\n
Payewi Huliria<\/p>\n
Kamagole Mondoye<\/p>\n
Petrus Ango<\/p>\n
Yale Saku<\/p>\n
Sia Kopasia<\/p>\n
Tagiapu Titus<\/p>\n
They may be hard to pronounce and unknown to the world, but in God\u2019s mind they are true champions.\u00a0 (See Hebrews 11, the Bible\u2019s hall of fame) Their eternal crowns await them in heaven.\u00a0 They are busy teaching and preaching and training other Christians in some of the hardest to reach areas of Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
But trainers need books.\u00a0 Books are kinda magic\u2026did you know that? \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 They are absolutely essential!\u00a0 They are like seeds that are planted and keep producing year after year.\u00a0 They are tireless teachers; always ready, never tired. \u00a0They never run out of batteries.\u00a0 So we keep busy writing study books for them and I go on regular mission trips and use the books to train pastors and teachers and their wives around the country.<\/p>\n
Will you pray with us for wisdom and direction and stick-to-it-iveness? \u00a0\u00a0Pray for those on the front lines, and those training to go to the front lines.\u00a0 And pray about how God wants you to be involved in people.\u00a0 (If you\u2019re reading this, you probably already are!)<\/p>\n