Strive to enter through the strait gate

Well, it’s springtime again and some things relating to this time of the year and the sports world have invaded my thoughts and, by doing so, have resulted in our lesson today.  The professional baseball teams are wrapping up their spring training.  They’re playing a few more practice games, getting themselves prepared for the real thing.  The real season.

Now here’s where I tie them in to, what I hope turns out to be, a spiritual lesson.  Why practice?  I mean, they’re all gifted athletes, aren’t they?  They’ve been blessed with great abilities.  Oh, some are better, more gifted, than the others, but they are all good or they wouldn’t be pulling down the enormous salaries they’re getting for playing a game.

So, I ask again, if they are so talented and so blessed with their innate abilities, why do they practice?  Think about it - they’re already successful.  They’re pros.  They’ve made it to the point that they’re getting paid large sums of money for doing what they do - play ball. 

Well, it’s really pretty simple.  They are successful because they practice.  So that they will get even better at their chosen field of endeavor, even if it is only a sport - a game.  Even during the regular season, they come early to the ballpark and “practice” before each game.  Because they’re dedicated to being the best they can be at playing baseball.

And, not just ballplayers practice all the time.  Look at professional golfers.  They’ll go out and play 18 holes in a tournament and then go directly from the last hole to the practice area and hit probably another 200-300 golf balls.  Why?  Because they’re just like the baseball players, they know that their success comes because of the practice.  Their striving towards the best they can be.

Thinking about these professional athletes and their continual “practicing” brought to mind something the apostle Paul once wrote to Timothy whom he described as his “son in the faith.”  In his first letter to him, notice in chapter 4, verses 13-15 he tells him to keep “reading the scriptures” and to devote himself to “preaching and teaching.”

Also we note there that, like our professional athletes, Timothy is “gifted” in his line of work.  Paul tells him “don’t neglect the gift you’ve been given...” In other words, Paul is saying, you’ve been blessed with ability so don’t neglect it. “Practice these things” is referring to studying the scriptures and getting better at your ministering abilities.

That is the same principle we see behind the professional athletes and why they “practice” all the time.  To better their skills, their abilities.  And, this same principle holds true in all of our endeavors, too.  By practicing to be the best, most faithful Christians we can be, provides the best rewards, the most success for our souls.

Now, there are some other Biblical words that are closely related in meaning to the intent seen in the word “practice.”  Words such as “strive” and “be diligent or give diligence” and “labor.”  Along with “practice” all of those terms are applicable to us and our Christianity.

I think a good example of this is found in Luke 13:24 where Jesus, in answer to a question asked of him, said:   “Strive to enter through the strait gate (narrow door)...” because that is the entryway of the saved (vs. 23).

Another lesson we can learn from looking at our professional athletes is, just because we’ve obeyed the Gospel, we’ve become a Christian, doesn’t mean that we no longer need to “strive,” to “be diligent” or to “practice” our Christianity.   We should be working towards improving our knowledge, our Christian skills, if you will. 

It’s for that same purpose that Paul told Timothy that he should “devote yourself” to studying “the scriptures” and to “practice” his preaching and teaching.  And he caps that thought off with these words: “So that all may see your progress.”  (1 Tim. 4:15)

In other words, so that by your “practice” you’ll become a better “preacher” a better “teacher” and a better “Christian.”  By doing so you’ll become a better example to others.

For a close to these thoughts today, I’d like you to take notice of a passage that relates to why we, as Christians, “practice.”   Why we “labor” and “strive” to be the best we can be at our chosen “calling.”  Let’s read 1 Tim. 4:9-10 together.  “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.  For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

Pro athletes continue to practice because they have a goal - to be the best they can be.  To successfully reach that goal.  Can any earthly reward be any more desirous of reaching than an eternal one?  Absolutely not.

“...Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.   (1 Tim. 4:7-8)

Ron Covey