God's Coaching #337

God's Coaching #337

When penguins refuse to live somewhere, you know it’s cold.

Every winter since 2006, a small group of brave souls have journeyed south—way, way south!—to compete in the Antarctic Ice Marathon, a 26.2-mile footrace in one of the coldest, driest, most unforgiving environments on earth. The competitors come to this icy wasteland for a challenge that you can’t get running in famous metropolitan races like the New York City or Boston marathons. At a remote location only a few hundred miles from the South Pole, temperatures frequently dip below zero. Katabatic winds swirl through the area at a steady 20 miles per hour. And at an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level, it is difficult to breathe.

The severe conditions make the race much more about endurance than speed. Jason Wolfe, the 2010 Antarctic Ice Marathon winner, finished in four hours, 46 minutes, and 50 seconds. For perspective, Ethiopia’s Gebre Gebrmariam won the 2010 New York City Marathon in less than half that time (2::0814).

What’s the Score?

Extreme marathoners get a kick out of traveling to a place as remote and forbidding as Antarctica to run a race. While the apostle Paul never visited the South Pole, he traveled to the corners of the known world in the first century to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Paul’s day, the borders of the Roman Empire were considered the boundaries of the civilized world, stretching from what is now Great Britain and Spain to Palestine and Egypt. Inspired by Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:16-20 to preach Christianity everywhere, Paul traveled to far-off places like Corinth, Philippi, Crete, Malta, and Rome.

Jesus’ command, known as “the great commission,” still applies to Christians today. If you have trusted in Jesus, you are called to share the Good News of salvation through Christ with others just like Paul did (Ephesians 3:8). God might call you one day to be a missionary to faraway lands. But you don’t have to get a passport to tell someone about Jesus. There are plenty of opportunities nearby. Whom do you know that needs to hear the gospel? A close friend? A neighbor or a classmate? A family member? Chances are, you don’t need to go far to share your faith.

On the Ball

Choose one person you know to share the gospel with this week.

Coach’s Comment

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8 (NIV)