To what are you Commited to?

People do triathlons for various reasons. The first is always to loose weight and get healthy. Some choose to do Tri's for the Challenge and or the Journey it takes them on. yet others do it for the chance to raise money for a special charity. You also have those few who just love to compete, (like yours truly). There are a few other reason of which I have not mentioned, but it is these reasons that motivate us to do triathlons.

Even with all these reasons there seems to be two types of triathletes. There are competitors and then there are participants. Competitors are the ones who love the battle of competition. They have the fire to compete and it is all about the hardware for them. While participants just want to have fun, to them, the challenge of finishing is their quest. For them the quest of the day is to finish and if it is a P.R. (personal record) that is the bonus.

The one thing about both of these two groups is, they share a common bond.  This can be  summed up in one word , commitment. Everyday they get up and do the workouts required for that day. Committed to learning the skill of swimming, cycling, and running. Doing what it takes to do what most people would never dream of doing. Although not perfect, some days they might not do the workout and sometimes they just do it half way, but overall they get the work done. They pursue their passion with what motivates them whether it be peers, family and  friends they get out there and do their thing.

What is ironic is that there are two types of Christians as well. The first type of Christians are well Christians. They claim the name of Jesus, and try with the best of their abilities, through the Holy Spirit, to live a life that emulates the example of what Jesus set for us. The other group is what my Pastor calls the Christian Atheist. A Christian Atheist? How can you use the words Christian and Atheist as one tittle? Well let me explain. A  Christian Atheist is someone who claims the name of Jesus but yet lives as if he does not exist. This group of people go to church sing the Praises of God. They hear the Word of God taught and explained. They feel the Spirit of God move them. Then go home and live like what they just did actually didn't even happen at all. (2Tim 3:1-7, Gal.5:16-26, Heb. 10:26-39)

I wish i could say I have never been a Christian Atheist but I have. I was once a Christian Atheist. Professing the name of Jesus but living  my live as He did not exists. Claiming the name of Christ and  doing my own thing, my own way. The Good news is that just like getting off the wrong running path covered with thorns and brush. God has provided a way for us to get back on the right path. I John 1:9 says it all. "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  The Psalmist David wrote a whole Psalm on asking God to bring him back to fellowship with God after commiting the sin of adultry. (Psalm 51) We can walk in darkness like the Christian Atheist or we can walk in Light and fellowship with the Father. (1 John 1:5-7, Romans 8:1-11) The path of life is much easier to follow in the Light, as we are Staring At Lines.