We have watched the gold medal performances, the fantastic finishes, and the golden smiles again and again on TV. But there is a flip side to joy when the dreams disappear. Olympian Kikkan Randall learned this truth firsthand in her Olympic journey.
Kikkan’s story reflects a deeper spiritual truth about faith. You don’t know the outcome in sports—or in business, acting, or any other pursuit in life. But in whichever course that you find yourself, you can choose to be more than just a believer—you can be a true follower of Jesus.
Being a Follower And Believer
Our heavenly Father alone will determine what our reward looks like because He alone knows the intent of our hearts. The distinction between being a follower or merely a believer shows in our daily choices and actions. God alone knows what He has given us and asks of us, and He alone knows when we have truly lived for His sake.
We’re not competing against any other person. It’s the fight of our hearts to choose Christ’s ways in the everyday, mundane things and seek His glory and honor. We all have different gifts, talents, physical abilities, and mental capacities. This means we have to stop comparing ourselves to one another because we each have a unique call and mission for our lives.
Your greatest purpose is to train your heart to live for Christ under His authority and for His glory. Whether you’re a CEO or a landscaper, God’s call is for you to be more than a believer—He calls you to be a follower of Jesus and be faithful in the fight He calls you to.
The Goal is Eternity
“I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” -1 Corinthians 9:23-24
The goal is eternity. The race is how we live our lives and where we run it. The difference between being a follower or just a believer determines our impact and legacy. God alone has all the data, and God alone sees the reasons we do what we do. Run with grace and enthusiasm, brothers and sisters, because the journey from believer to follower is worth it.
The Even You Podcast
On the Even You podcast, we want to empower ordinary people to say, “Yes!” to extraordinary purpose. Hear how everyday believers are using their gifts to have an eternal impact on people’s lives around the world. Learn more, share, and listen to the podcast now!