Everybody Loses.

EVERYBODY LOSES. It’s a fact of sports: If you compete, eventually you’ll lose. Travis Pastrana learned that at the 2003 Gravity Games. During the first freestyle motocross competition broadcast live on network television, Pastrana didn’t take the gold—something he’d done at every other Gravity Games he’d entered. But it wasn’t for the lack of trying.

At the end of his first run, Pastrana crashed hard while trying to land a one-handed, one-footed backflip. The defending champ was knocked unconscious for a few moments before he came to and walked into the crowd to greet his fans. Then during a TV interview before his second run, Pastrana still seemed woozy and didn’t remember anything about his first attempt. Doctors looked at Pastrana and advised him not to get back on his motorcycle.

Still on the top of the leaderboard with 87.5 despite his crash, Pastrana watched Nate Adams pull a killer run that included two backflips—one was a gigantic trick over the transfer—and a ton of other solid stunts. Nate’s score of 91 knocked Pastrana out of first in the most-watched FMX competition of all time.

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POINT By constantly pushing to the next level and taking chances, Travis Pastrana became a legend in freestyle motocross. However, after a head injury, Pastrana showed that he wasn’t willing to do something stupid. He followed the doctor’s opinion and sat out his second run—even though he knew it might cost him the gold. His long-term health proved more important than short-term glory at the Gravity Games.

In our Christian life, we’re often faced with the same decision: Do we make a bad decision for temporary excitement or do the right thing and gain long-term joy? Looking at it that way makes the decision seem easy, but it’s a lot more difficult when we’re caught in the heat of the moment, such as being offered alcohol or being tempted sexually.

GOAL! Decide right now where you stand on premarital sex and underage drinking. By setting that choice in stone, you’ll be better able to make the right decision when temptation comes. Ask God to give you the strength to do the right thing.