Published by Barnabas International • PO Box 11211 • Rockford, IL 61126 • Volume IX • No. 1 • January 1995
LAREAU LINDQUIST, Founder
The 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, had many memorable events and unforgettable moments. One of the highlights was the successful 1,000 meter race of Dan Jansen who won the gold medal. Jansen had been skating all of his life. He had participated in many skating events. He had skated in seven races in four Olympics. Often he had been a winner during his skating career, with the exception being the Olympic competitions. In the Olympics he had never been able to win a major prize…until his final competition…and he won! Many of us were cheering for him because he seemed to be such a nice guy…because he had endured personal tragedy in his life…because he had tried so hard and yet had never won the top prize. When he won, millions of people around the world rejoiced and cried and cheered. I was one of them.
During a television interview, Jansen was asked if there was any one thing that sustained him in tough times. Any one thing that kept him going when he felt like quitting. I will never forget his answer. He told of a skating event that he participated in as an eleven year old boy. He lost the competition. He was broken hearted. He cried most of the way home as he traveled with his dad in the family car. His father tried to console him and wisely said to his son, "Son, life is more than skating in circles."
Dan Jansen related to us that this phrase stayed with him through the years of competition…the times of defeat…the times of wanting to give up.
Hear it again…Life is more than skating in circles. But, you ask, how does that relate to me? Two scripture texts come to mind.
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Jesus said, "Man's life does not consist in the possessions he has" (Luke 12:15).
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Paul wrote, "Living to me means simply Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
As Jansen's father said, life is more than skating in circles. Skating is fun. It is good. It is all right. But life is more than skating. Let's focus on those two words.
The typical man on the street may be totally occupied with money …success…popularity…possessions…sports…the list continues.
The disciplined Christian may be fully committed to the great themes of family life…evangelism…discipleship…Christian service…missions. These are worthy pursuits but life is even more than these things. Paul said, "Living to me means simply Christ."
The life that satisfies is more than any one thing in life. It is more than the sum total of many things. The satisfying life is more than your best hobby…more than your prized possession…more than your greatest pursuit…more than your ministry. IT IS SIMPLY JESUS. It is knowing Him. Loving Him. Glorifying Him. Following Him. Pleasing Him. Serving Him.
The hymnist states it well…
Jesus only let me see. Jesus only, none save He.
Then the world will see in me Jesus, Jesus only.
