....winner

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2

Jim Ryun, America's hope at the 1972 Olympic games to win the 1500-meter race, fell just 500 meters short of the finish line in his qualifying race. After a review of the video tape, the Olympic Committee refused to reinstate him even though the video showed he had been fouled.

As a new Christian, the challenge for Jim was how he would handle the major crisis of his running career. Devastating? It could have been. Jim had focused all of his training and energy for a full year on that one Olympic event which had seemingly been stolen out from underneath him.

But, Jim had found that no glory on earth... no Olympic medal... no world record... could fill the emptiness in his heart - only Jesus Christ could bring fulfillment and purpose to his life. Later Jim wrote, "God allowed me to be disqualified from the world's most prestigious athletic competition to show me how to be a real winner."

How are you trying to fill that emptiness deep within? Are you relentlessly pursuing your dreams expecting their fulfillment to bring you fulfillment? Are you trying to fill the emptiness with success? with praise and accolades from others? with money? Or perhaps you're trying to fill the emptiness in relationships with others.  Are you expecting the emptiness to be filled by your spouse? a boyfriend? a girlfriend? your children?

The only One who can perfectly and permanently fill the emptiness within you is Jesus Christ. If you don't have a relationship with Him, or if you relationship has been weakened by trials and turmoil, why not find the peace and joy and fulfillment that Jim Ryun has found by turning to God and allowing Him to be your Lord and Savior.

-marji kruger