This last week, I shared this message with a group of teenage athletes. I believe it’s a word that we can all find encouragement in. Whether you’re an athlete or not, we all have a podium to stand on. The question is, which one will it be?

My journey as a Christian athlete is a mixed bag at best. I grew up going to church occasionally, or when convenient, and pouring a lot of energy into athletics. I had struggles balancing faith and sports. And I don’t think there really was a balance. I prayed fairly regularly. I was baptized. I did Sunday school when I could. But beyond that there was no pursuit of holiness or the things of God. It came down to what motivated me, and it wasn’t deepening my relationship with Jesus. It was success in sports and school. That was a motivation I carried into my young adulthood. Instead of wrestling and grades, it became coaching and my career as a teacher.

The major lesson I have learned through all of it is I need to make Christ the center of it all. In order to do that, I had to learn who Jesus really is. When He isn’t your priority, you don’t learn much about Him. It wasn’t something that was a priority in my home growing up. I never knew what doing devotionals were until I was an adult. I never knew worship was more than singing a few hymns on Sunday. I never knew what it meant to live a life of service, devoted to the wellbeing of others. I was never shown what it meant to witness my faith. All of these things are core principles of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And they were all missing from my life until I encountered Him in my mid-20s.

So let’s go back to the question: who is Jesus? He asked His own disciples, “who do you say that I am?” I found my answer, as I hope you all do, from Jesus himself. Let’s take a look at some words straight from God’s word.

In John chapter 1 it says that In the beginning Jesus was the Word and was with God and was God. Later, in John 14:6 He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. In Revelation 22:13 Jesus is called the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Colossians 1:15-17 calls Him the image of the invisible God and by and FOR him all things were created.

If Jesus is all of these things, then my life had to radically change. I couldn’t be elevating other things over my relationship with Him. I couldn’t be trying to measure success in anything other than knowing Him more deeply. To be a Christian means to be sold out for Jesus. To be captivated by Him. Colossians 3:4 calls Jesus our life. And therefore He has to be the focus of our life.

Jesus gave his followers a title that He also gave himself. In John 8:12 He said, “I am the light of the world. In Matthew 5:14 He said, “You are the light of the world.” And therefore it is. The piece that had never been taught to me. I am a vessel for His light to shine through. I am meant to make Him known in whatever setting I find myself: as an athlete, coach, teacher, student, husband, friend, coworker, or any other title and position.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV

The reward we put so much effort into seeking through sports, careers, and other achievements is very different from the reward spoken of here. Our pursuit is Jesus, and what we get is so much more than anything we could ever hope to receive through earthly pursuits. So I ask you, which podium has priority in your heart? The one you stand on to receive recognition, or the one you speak from to give God glory?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15-17 ESV

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.