Treasures in Heaven

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to watch the best tennis in the world. I took a few days vacation and traveled to Cincinnati, OH to watch the quarters, semis, and finals of the Western and Southern Financial Open. This event is one level below all of the grand slam tournaments so all of the top players in the world were there.

It was very interesting to observe and take in these four days worth of tennis. Everything from the ESPN Set covering the event to Rafael Nadal warming-up on the side court, to the things that were said both during and after matches.

Probably the most interesting thing that I saw happen was in the final match between Andy Murray and Novac Djokovic. Andy Murray was serving and was about to win his first major tournament and was very visibly nervous. At one point after he had won a point, he walked up to the ball boy who had picked up the ball he had just won the previous point with and asked for the same ball back for the next point.

This made me think about superstitions in sports. Most of the time superstitions are selfish in nature and are in an attempt to glorify man through his own selfish gain rather that achieve the goal that God has for us in sports which is to know Him, glorify Him, and become more like Him.

Jesus said this in Matthew 6 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Instead of man glorifying superstitions, try to find something visual when you compete that can remind you of the goal of knowing God, glorifying Him, and becoming more like Him. For me, when the service line runs into the singles line on a tennis court, it reminds me of a cross and what Jesus did on that cross to save me from my sin. That motivates me to glorify Him in all that I do because I don't deserve that. What can you find to remind you of Jesus in the midst of competition?

Nate Lewis
FCA-Area Representative
Western Nebraska