It's All About Winning

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:9-20 ESV). Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? drew millions to watch someone try to win a million dollars on TV. I watched it on several occasions, though I never saw a million-dollar winner. There are other awards shows appearing each week, or so it seems. Every sports season seems to have two parts: getting ready for the playoffs, then the race to the championship. Even political coverage always seems to center on who is winning, rather than more complex issues of government and policy. Everybody loves a winner; we don't even bother considering losers enough to hate them. The pressure to win pervades every aspect of our lives. So at this juncture, it might be wise to remember the ultimate champion, the one who exceeds even Don King-zone hype: Jesus Christ. The church in Colossae needed a reminder. Its members faced false teaching about what was necessary for salvation. For some first-century losers, Christ alone did not seem enough. So before Paul began teaching the Colossians, he did a quick review session on the One whose name we carry as believers. Today’s passage answers the question "Who's Number 1?" with an undeniable choice: Christ Himself. Run down the list: He created all things, is before all things, holds all things together. By the time you reach the end, Jesus has taken an insurmountable lead. Our society will always worship its "winners," and we can appreciate their accomplishments. But we should never lose sight of the ultimate champion: our Savior, Jesus Christ. When you're obsessed with who's winning and losing, reflect on the One who has won. Trust in Him. One day every knee will bow, and everyone will agree that Christ is the undisputed winner. Why wait until then? Once we answer the "Who's Number 1?" question, we have a good start at settling other issues also. So, today isn’t it time to settle that question with an undeniable surrender to Christ as your Lord and Savior?