I think what this passage from Corinthians is leading us too though is that it isn’t that faith is a gift from God, its that understanding His purpose and will are a gift from God.  Yes faith is still a gift, but if God were to purposely withhold that from some while allowing others to claim it would mean that God is interfering with free will.  However, we can see that there are many people out there who claim Christianity but yet do not truly understand God’s will and purpose.  It is a rare few that truly understand God’s love, His purpose, and His passion.  Many people can study the Bible for their entire life and would never get past a basic faith and understanding of the story presented in it’s pages.

It is like the story of the three blind men who were led to an elephant.  Each one touched a different part and proclaimed it to be something else.  One man, at the trunk declared the elephant to be a snake.  Another man, at the tail, said the elephant was rope, and the third man, clinging to its leg, said it was a tree.  To man, God and His purpose are only revealed in part and understood in part (on this side of Heaven).  God has chosen some to bless and understand His purpose and be able too see His story unfolding as intended in the pages of Scripture.  The rest are bound to have all of God’s glory revealed when they meet their maker.

And even those who understand, it is even fewer to whom it truly enters their heart and changes them.  For it isn’t until it penetrates our heart that the pages we read and the words we hear truly have any effect on our life.

To me loving some one means putting their needs first, finding what interests them and (to a point) obsessing over it, spending time with them whenever possible, building memories and common interests together, building a life together, committing to them and no one else, being emotionally and physically committed to only them, guarding your heart from sources that would strive to separate, and so much more.

If those are the signs of love being expressed, how many Christians can say they live like that?  How many Christians can say that they are that committed to Jesus?  Do they think about Him at work?  Do they choose not to go to the bar with friends after work because they would rather spend time with Him?  Do they schedule their free time to make sure that time with Jesus is included?  Do they find out what He loves and then do it?  Do they guard their heart from the images, behaviors, and influences which seek to distract them from Him?  Do they not let anything taint their love?  Are they devoted first and foremost to Him?  And finally- is all of this visible in their life?

My friends know I am married, do they know I love God?  My friends love me and would tell me that my behaviors are potentially harmful to my marriage- would they do the same for my relationship with Christ?  There are two responsibilities: 1- for me, in my relationship with God, to not let anything in come between it, and 2- for my brothers and sisters in Christ to help protect me from that which would distract me from that relationship.  See, it is not MY faith which I entered into but THE faith.  THE faith is one of many people and generations- all working together as the Body of Christ to live together in faith, hope, and love, and to accomplish the will of Christ.  MY faith is singular and places me in a journey all my own- where if I fall I have no one to help me and no one to turn to- THE faith is a journey with people to many to count- people who will walk with me and are walking before me on the same journey- the long and difficult path to life with Christ.  We will all fail at loving Christ perfectly- but trying together helps us get closer then anything I could do on my own.

I don’t know how many times I have read that passage and thought of it in terms of the journey to Heaven being tough and grueling, or thinking about God and His good and not thinking about our past sinful life.

But it is so much more than that.

When we strain toward what is ahead, we focus on God and His will in our life.  Simultaneously we forget what is past us- both good and bad.  Let’s start with forgetting what is behind us.  Thinking in terms of racing, if we look back to see where others are, we take our focus off the goal- the finish line- and begin to focus on what is irrelevant, other racers.  As long as we are running the best possible race we can, regardless of who is around us and where they are in relation to us, we will always win.  This is difficult in human nature because we constantly compare ourselves to others and we don’t try as hard when people are not looking or when we have a victory in our grasp.  I think of the 2008 Summer Olympics.  The Jamaican runner- Bolt ran the 100 meters in record time, but it appeared as he let up towards the end.  He had the victory in hand, and it didn’t matter that he could have finished a couple milliseconds faster- he won- so he stopped trying.  He did not perform his best because he knew he didn’t need too.  We cannot judge as everyone does this in some aspect of their life.  Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we must remember that looking back can get us in trouble for several different reasons- we can become conceited and prideful of our victories as well as bogging ourselves down in despair, doubt, guilt, and defeat over our sins and flaws as well.  Looking back takes our eyes off of God- we decide that we do not have to try as hard if there is not as much competition- we do not strive with everything we have towards the goal- we settle.

When we become prideful we try to reward ourselves and make special notice of our past accomplishments- pointing them out to others and trying to glamorize our self-proclaimed victories.  God has told us that our rewards are stored up in Heaven- with Him- where He cares for them.  His victories are also not our victories.  The ones we see and cling too are not what He holds dear.  So we are looking back on things that do not even matter in the race- they can distract us and take us off course.

Looking forward saves us from the troubles and tribulations that come with looking to the past.  The past provides no fulfillment- it is empty of anything that could save us.  What God cares about is how we are right now, today, living in the moment for Him, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  That is what God cares about- and looking to the past will make us miss every opportunity He gives us to love today!

Straining on toward the goal then becomes our only way to fulfillment, self-worth, and focus.  We cannot live in the past, and neither can we live in the future- dreaming of the days where it will be better.  Life will be easier when I get that new job, when my secret romance finally notices me, or when I can get out from all this debt.

God has joy and life available for us right now, today- we must take our focus off of ourselves, lace up our shoes, and get in the race.  Focus on Him, ignore the temptations and distractions around us, and learn everyday what it means to not look back, not doubt, not give up, and keep striving for His goal.

in the name of righteousness for few.

We turn from You, we preach and sing

we confess and pray, our offerings we bring.

But in our heart we are empty- full of desire

we have no hope, life, or joy- we are lost in the mire.

We are empty vessels, we are full of mush

feelings are bottled, not ready to gush.

Ignite within us, fill us now

with Your life, guide us to it somehow.

To show ourselves and to show the world

that you can save and heal all wounds.

There is so much available from You for us-

remove the scales and shake off the dust.

Renew our hearts and give us strength for the day

Let our eyes gaze on You- on your breast may we lay.

In his speech today he spoke very clearly and plainly that none of this is anyones business.  He does not owe us any explanation and that the matter is purely between himself and his wife.  I couldn’t agree more.  Just because someone’s career places them in the spotlight that does not mean that we are now a part of their personal life and that they somehow owe us explanations for everything they do.  Some celebrities don’t mind and probably actually enjoy having their life in the spotlight, but it is by no means a natural right of the media, or the general public, to place themselves in someone’s life.

When Tiger was done and the talking heads came on again one of the actually said that he felt that the speech was poorly done and he blasted Tiger for not taking questions (The Golf writers actually boycotted the speech in protest because he would not take questions).  Like I said earlier, too bad!  Tiger is not obligated to answer questions, in fact, he is not obligated to even provide this speech.  He could have easily gone away into his life, never to return to golf and he would not have owed anyone anything.  The fact that some of these writers think they are entitled to this information is ridiculous.  I have read only a handful of articles that actually support Tiger’s silence- good for them.  The rest of the writers out there need to go back to school and learn that while, as a reporter you must ask the questions- it is your job- no one is obligated to give you an answer.

This idea of entitlement is going to far and too many people feel they are entitled to too many things.  This issue is just the tip of the iceberg.  Media, learn a lesson from this- celebrities learn a lesson from this- I have so much more respect for Tiger Woods then I have for many of you.  Yes he has admitted to infidelity; Yes he has been vague and as you call it, ‘selfish.’  But in reality he is keeping private what should remain private and you are upset about it because you cannot demonize him and sell a few more copies…  too bad… oh, and well done Tiger.

Really?  She decided?  Isn’t that flawed somehow?  Can we really decide to give our life to Jesus?  If you are Christian don’t you believe that God made you, and if so, doesn’t that mean that as your creator your life is not really yours to give away?  Doesn’t that mean that God already owns your life?

It really leads into a much larger issue- control.  Why do people fight over control?  Why are we so unwilling to give up control or submit our control to someone or something else?  Why do we feel like we have to have some amount of control over so many things in our life?  For Christians it is even more disturbing.  Christians believe that God is in control- that He made Heaven and Earth and that He sent Jesus to die for all sins.  If this is the case- why wouldn’t you want Him in control?  Why would you still pretend that you have any control?  Why would you say things like, “I decided to give Jesus my life.” or “I accepted Christ.”  These statements just don’t make sense and they are counter to what Christians preach about who is in control.

So who is in control?  How do Christians that talk like that justify what they say?  What do they say God’s role is in ‘their’ life?  I am very curious about this.  Maybe its that they can’t imagine giving up some control?  Maybe they feel that if they think that they still have some control that they can influence their life somehow.  Maybe they feel like they are uncomfortable with where God would take them if they truly ‘gave their life completely’ to God.  Whatever the case, aren’t they kidding themselves?  How would life be different if they didn’t think and speak that way?  Would they live life differently?  Would it matter that much, would they really be any different?  Would the world be different?