Monday, January 23, 2012

Does Winning a Championship Make You a Champion?

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, January 23, 2012 | Category: |

Every where I turn- either on TV, the radio, on the internet,etc., people are talking about who will be a Champion- AFC Champion, NFC Champion, Super Bowl Champion, BCS Champion, NCAA Champion, State Champion. So many people have opinions and express them on talk shows, news reports, message boards, and broadcasts- like, if you win a championship, it suddenly defines that you are a new person or you have a new status or even it places you in the top tier of people in your given sport. I have heard over the years that Charles Barkley, Dan Marino, Karl Malone, and others that did not win a “championship” were in a lesser category because they were not a Champion- as defined by our society. But, is that true? If we suddenly snap our fingers and close our eyes and give them a ring, would people talk about them differently? Would they have a different legacy? Would they be elevated and viewed differently?

So, that is my question today- DOES WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP REALLY MAKE YOU A CHAMPION? When I started thinking about this, I wanted to know the definition of what the term “Champion” meant. And, here is what I found:

cham·pi·on
noun

1.
a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition or series of competitions, so as to hold first place: the heavyweight boxing champion.

2.
anything that takes first place in competition: the champion of a cattle show.

3.
an animal that has won a certain number of points in officially recognized shows: This dog is a champion.

4.
a person who fights for or defends any person or cause: a champion of the oppressed.

5.
a fighter or warrior.

As you can read- all of the terms are something that must be earned, something that was sought out, dreamed about, acted upon, and success attained. You had to earn the title of Champion- it was something that required action and earning capacity- 100% of the required work had to fall on the shoulders of the participants and then the title was given to you.

We all have a picture in our mind of Muhammed Ali or a prize fighter after a boxing match-exhausted, dripping sweat, and puffy swollen eyes, being held up on the shoulders of his entourage, holding the belt that defined him as a Champion high above his head. But, my question remains, was he any less of a Champion before that moment- that moment when the official counted to 10 and held his arm up?

That is the way society views the term CHAMPION. Thank God that is directly opposed to the way that our Creator defines the term CHAMPION. Check out God’s definition in 2 verses but, spelled out throughout the Bible- it is amazing:

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation (CHAMPION) has come: The old has gone, the new (CHAMPION) is here!

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Amazingly, we are viewed as a Champion in the eyes of the true King. How amazing that by grace this is given to us through God’s son who did all of the work for us- died the death we should have died- so that we would be elevated to the status of CHAMPION! You, me, and everyone if we are in Christ, are Champions- we have already won the prize, the ring, the title belt- our names are written on the palms of His hands-are you kidding me???

So, for Charles Barkley, Dan Marino, Karl Malone, and everyone of us that believe and are a new creation- we can live with that freedom that we are a Champion and our prize is so much greater than any trophy or ring could symbolize, so much greater than anything that could be said on ESPN by critics, and so much better than any history book could define. We are a CHAMPION in the eyes of the Most High, the one who created ESPN and the history books-and that is eternal.

My encouragement is for you to go live your week from the mindset that you are a CHAMPION and are loved far more than you could ever ask or imagine! Go bless and serve and love every single person you come in contact with this day and every day and live life knowing that you can live your days as a CHAMPION!

Have a great day!

Drew Maddux
Tennessee Director
Elite Hoops

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