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"The will of God
will never take you
where the Grace of God
will not protect you."
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Camp's
Corner
Easter 2008 was truly a great celebration:
a celebration of the victory of all victories for you and me. The choir did a magnificent job of delivering the most powerful message of all time: that Jesus lived, suffered, died and rose again for all of us; and that even now, He lives for us and through us. The victory is ours.
And while we are on the subject of victory, it is March Madness time. A time when many of us for fun check to see if we can pick the National Champion of College
Basketball in the NCAA Tournament. Just for the record, 3 of my final 4 are still alive: Texas, Tennessee and
Wisconsin.
Whether we like and/or follow College Basketball or not, we are all involved in victory, not just of a sports tournament, but of a free gift called “Eternal Life”. Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Did you catch that? We made the Bible again, “All of us who have loved His appearing.” As exhilarating as winning a
National Championship must be, how much more so when we experience the ultimate victory together; as His team, as His family, as His body. What a day that will be!
One thing you cannot help but notice is how hard these young athletes work, as they compete for the prize, the
National Championship. We do not even see most of their hard work; their workouts, their practices, and their regular school studies along with their busy schedules. Any of us who have had students involved in extra-curricular activities know and remember what it is like to sacrifice so they can go the extra mile. Our Christian lives are even more so like that. Paul again says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who
competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;
I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I
discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
Let us all run with endurance the race that is set
before us, fixing our eyes on the only finish line that matters, on the author and perfecter of our faith, on Jesus!
And as always, may your JOY be complete,
David N. Camp
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