Some guys are simply born with a ball in their hands or muscles in all the right places to take the lead in any sport without even practising. 

My son got the opportunity to make one of his dreams come true: To do the Freedom Swim from Robben Island to Blouberg. He was a keen swimmer at school. The problem is the “was” in the previous sentence, because at that stage, he was only really looking at swimming pools from a distance. 

He asked my opinion. I saw the reality of no swimming practice and the seven-and-a-half-kilometre swim and said: “Don’t even think about it”. 

But young people think differently, and he decided to do it. And he made it! Without almost drowning somewhere along the way. I wonder where he inherited those genes. 

I was a wimp when I was at school. Well, I’m actually still a wimp. And of course, at the beginning of the year, we all had to participate in the house sports events. I never even came close to the podium. 

Fortunately, I’ve now caught up and am part of the winning team. Not on the sports field, but the prize for winning this is so much better than a medal around my neck. 

4Every God-born person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.   

It’s good to be on a winning team. It’s nice to participate, be a winner and actually not have done anything to deserve it. Jesus took it all upon Himself. 

However, this race is not finished. We’re still running here on earth. It’s not a race to see who gets to the finish line first. It’s a daily race where we must put in the effort to prevent sin from gaining the upper hand in our lives. 

Yes, Jesus has already died for our sins, and we no longer have to pay for them. That race has already been run and won. 

But now it’s the little races every day, in every situation, where we must exert ourselves to emerge victorious. This has nothing to do with whether you’re sporty or not. It has everything to do with whether you have the right tools to resist the evil one’s temptations. 

And you can’t, like my son, just show up for the big swim of life without practising. We will have to prepare ourselves well, because besides facing a tough opponent, we are by default inclined to go wrong. 

Therefore, let’s practice well and make sure that our relationship with God is right, so that He can guide us as Coach. Be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He’ll teach you the dos and don’ts, so that you can be a winner every time. 

Sripture
1 John 5:1-5 

Reflection
Are you a winner?
Where do you still lose?
How can you make sure you win every time? 

Prayer
Jesus, thank you that I can be part of the winning team. Help me to win everywhere. Amen.