“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” — 1 John 4:10
Ultimate Sacrifice
If I was asked to vote for the most amazing athletic achievement of the past 25 years, my vote would go to Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father and son who have competed in 234 triathlons, including six Ironman championships.
What makes Team Hoyt so special is that Rick is a mute quadriplegic. Dick has to be his son’s arms and legs. During the 2.5-mile swim portion of the Ironman, Rick lays in a rubber raft attached to his father’s wetsuit. In the 112-mile bike phase, Rick sits in a chair attached to the front of Dick’s bicycle. Finally, Rick sits in a race chair and is pushed by Dick during the 26.2-mile marathon portion of the Ironman.
Why would Dick submit his body to such grueling torture? Ask Rick. Although he’s mute, Rick can communicate via a special computer that accepts head movements. Rick says, “When I am running, my disability seems to disappear. It is the only place where I feel I’m an equal.” The intense desire for his son to feel free of his handicap fuels Dick’s fire.
In a way, we’re all severely handicapped. Our sin nature severs our fellowship with God, creates an atmosphere of discontent, and ultimately condemns us to death. Fortunately, God graciously provides an antidote for us in the cleansing blood of Jesus (1 John 1: 9).
Today, confess your need for God’s forgiveness and begin to live a life centered on pleasing God instead of self. It’s the only race worth running.
— Mark Romang
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