One-on-one

Nope, not talking about basketball here... we're talking about promises made by God to a specific individual.    A promise made uniquely by God with an intended audience of one.

This is not just a limited few promises we're talking about here either.  God made many unique promises to many individuals.  Some of these individuals were powerful leaders like David and Solomon and Hezekiah.  Some of them were famous patriarchs like Abraham, Moses and Jacob.  Some of them, though, were women, foreigners, and "sinners".

It can be natural for us to quickly look at these promises and think, "OK, this is for them, not me," and then move on to something else.  While each of these promises was chiefly for the benefit of who God was making the promise to, I believe there is a very cool benefit each of us can receive in considering these promises.  God has a unique plan for you.  He has a unique way of dealing with you and leading you.  In the course of this journey in life, God can make you a promise that is only for you (not for anyone else around you, no matter how powerful or spiritual they are).  This One-on-one promise requires that you and I are tuned in to Him who is speaking it, and that we have the faith to believe it.

So what has He spoken to you?

Meaningless

One of the toughest books in the Bible for me to understand is Ecclesiastes.  The philosophy of the writer, Solomon, seems backwards, frustrated, and confusing.  I mostly find myself disagreeing with Solomon's presented outlook.  However, there are also days where frustration and doubt seem larger than goals and hope.  In these days, I find myself echo the cries of Solomon that it all seems MEANINGLESS.  While I know this not to be true, doubts can occassionally make me feel that life is meaningless.  You've probably felt it too. 

There are so many areas in life that we wrestle over questions like these:
  - What is the legacy I am leaving behind?
  - Am I really impacting anyone's life?
  - What have I really done to make the world (my city, my job, my school, my home) a better place?
  - Will anyone even notice if I do the right thing instead of take the easy way out?
  - Does anyone care how hard I try?

If you are wrestling with any of these questions, let me share with you a promise that has helped me in times of doubt.

"So then my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."     - I Cor 15:58

We are promised that it is not empty, not in vain, not meaningless.  Every ounce of effort you pour out working for the Lord will be effective, and the Lord is faithful to reward your efforts.  This gives great reason to remain steadfast and press on, whether we see the results or not!

To the One who Overcomes

As a runner, I am often shooting to set new goals, run a new distance, set a personal record on a certain course.  Last week I think I set a new personal record for the coldest I've ever gotten while running.  I think a part of the sport of running has a lot to do with overcoming hurdles and setting new boundaries.  While very little of my running ever has to do with beating others, it has a lot to do with overcoming.
 
I am not very name-brand loyal about shoes or running gear (usually buy what is on sale), but I have always kind of liked Nike.  Their advertising is pretty briliant (check out the video below...), and Niketown is amazing.  But one of the things that I have always liked about Nike is the name.  In Greek, the word νικη (which reads nike) means "one who overcomes or conquers, the victor." 
 
So when we turn to consider a very powerful and mysterious set of promises in Revelation 2-3, we see 7 promises given to the 7 churches.  These promises are both beautiful and confusing, and I'm not sure what they are really promising in some cases.  The seven repeated promises belonging to the

νικη suggests a real importance that God places on our living victoriously.  Further on in Revelation, there is one more very clear promise to the one who overcomes:

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. - Rev 21:7

It is tempting to look at my life and say "I'm not strong enough, brave enough, consistent enough, disciplined enough to be a conqueror." We can most all of us honestly conclude this.  However, we also have some amazing promises about the victory available to us through Christ 

• I John 5:4 - For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
• Isa 54:17 - No weapon formed against you shall prosper...
• Rom 8:37 - Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
• II Cor 2:14 - Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ...
• Phil 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Running is a very simple sport.  It is simply putting one foot in front of the other, and finding the will and inpiration to press on.  Overcoming in running really is quite simple.  So also, there is something amazingly similar to overcoming in life.  Since the victory comes from Jesus, our path to victory is walking with Him, simply putting one foot in front of the other and receiving from Him the will and inspiration to press on.