The Wild Card

In the 2000 Olympics, in Sydney Australia, one of the most memorable swim races was witnessed by 17,000 spectators.  The Olympics gives out what is known as, “wild cards” to a rare few who are allowed to represent their country even though they did not meet the requirements to earn a spot in the Olympic event.  Eric Moussambani had the opportunity of a lifetime when the Olympics gave him one of these wild cards so he could represent his country.  For eight months Eric trained in the ocean because there was nowhere in his country that an Olympic size pool was available.  The pool he did train in was only 12-13 meters long but he was preparing to swim the 50-meter race.  Eric was so honored and excited to experience this memorable moment.  Reality set in when he was told that he was doing the 100-meter race.  Eric had never seen an Olympic-sized pool before and the size of the pool before him overwhelmed him.  Now to add to his anxiety he has to swim 100 meters when he only trained for 50.  Eric realized that he was unqualified when he saw the American’s training and diving in their practices.  He tried emulating some of their dives and form but it was way too late to perfect what he was not.  How was this man going to qualify against the other competitors?

On the big day, Eric and two other men from Niger and Tajikistan took their places and set themselves up to dive into this huge pool.  By all means,  it would be a miracle if he would even have the strength to finish, let alone move on to the next level.  The men waited in their ready positions for the sound of the whistle that would tell them to dive in the pool and begin the race.  “Ready… Set….”  There was no “Go”  The two other competitors dove in and began swimming with all they had, Eric was still at his podium when several whistles went off causing the race to stop.  Something was wrong and Eric immediately thought he was the one they were blowing the whistle for.  Instead, it was ruled that the other two swimmers jumped into the pool before the final whistle was blown, to everyone’s surprise, they had disqualified themselves.

The other two competitors were no longer in the race and everything was reset for Moussambani.   It wasn’t over for him, he still needed to swim and swim he did.  The first 50 meters went okay, but because he had never swam more than that before, he soon became tired and weary.  The obvious struggle that he had to endure in order to finish was so painful for everyone to watch.  All he wanted to do was finish the phase at this point.   He knew that he would not make the qualifying time to move forward.  He was just honored to represent his country in the most famous event in the world.  So he fought on and pushed past his pain to finish his race and finish he did.  Sometimes life isn’t about qualifying but it’s about the fight.

The Sin of Comparison

How many of us can relate to Eric?  We are all unqualified to be on this Olympic-sized pool of life.  There are two kinds of people that show up to life’s games.  The ones who fool themselves to think they are qualified and those who know they are unqualified.   Don’t we live life comparing our failures and victories against others?  How else do we know that we are fat; when we see those that are skinny.  How do we know that we are poor; when we see someone who is rich.  How do we know that we are a failure; when we see someone who is successful.

It is my opinion that comparison is a tool that the enemy uses to lead us into suffering, pain, and sin.  When you look at the story of Adam and Eve you see two perfect people who had it all, but Satan caused them to question themselves by showing how inferior they were, compared to God.    Gen 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

Adam and Eve were more like God than the angels because they were made in God’s image, but Satan made Adam and Eve believe that there was some part of them that was not like God.  They compared their knowledge of good and evil to God’s knowledge.  Comparison, in this case, leads them to enter a life of sin.  There was nothing wrong with being like God, but it was the path they went on to be more like Him which led to their downfall.

We find ourselves at times failing at life’s challenges when we are not confident in who we are to God.  In the book “Unqualified”, Steven Furtick makes a very powerful statement, “Maybe the fact that you don’t currently measure up to the expectations you or other people have isn’t a deal killer.  Maybe God wants to do something beyond your abilities, and he is a far less intimidated by your failures and limits than you are.” (Pg 10).

Walking Contradictions

Can you handle the fact that maybe God has called you to be a walking contradiction?   “Maybe some of the things we think are dirt and grime are actually essential parts of who we are.  Maybe some areas we call weaknesses are really strengths in disguise.  They bother us now, but God has plans to use them for our benefit.  They are an essential part of who God made us to be.  Erasing them would be a travesty” (pg 41).  This statement means that we may have to be the walking dead who lost everything but need nothing.  We may have to show others that we are weak but stronger than ever.  How contradictory is it to hunger after God but live a life full of His love?  Life becomes more complicated when you try to be something you aren’t. “First impressions, second impressions, last impressions—they are irrelevant to him because he knows the real you.  He sees past the façade and recognizes you for who you really are.” (pg 59)

I know that some of these things that Steven is saying and maybe even what I’m saying to you as well can be way too hard to do, but change has to start somewhere.  May I suggest that as a first step you use one of Steven’s ideas?   Simply start with changing your third word (pg 41-44).  Your third word is how you finish the phrase, “I am…”   For example: I am fat, I am weak, I am a coward, I am impatient, I am ugly, I am angry, I am mean, I am critical, I am fearful?  You may say, “Well I am those things, Marsha!”  You may be right, but sometimes it’s that third word that keeps you from living a life that is unsatisfactory.  Last week, in the weekly challenge, I asked you to read Exodus 3 and 4; it was the account of Moses when he was at the burning bush.  In these verses, Moses asks,

Who am I?- translation-I am not qualified

Who are you God?-translation– I’m not close enough to you God.

What if they don’t believe me –translation– I’m a nobody.

I stutter when I speak-translation –I’m not good enough.

Can you please send someone else-translation-You have the wrong guy.

When you read God’s response to Moses’ reasons for not being the right person, God never corrects him!!  The truth is Moses was right, he was unqualified, un-knowledgeable of God, the people weren’t going to believe him, he was a horrible public speaker and there was probably someone who would seem like they would be a better fit.  God never disputes his excuses.  God will not dispute all the things you see about yourself either because the truth remains that without Christ we are nothing.  However, God is in the habit of taking those that are last in to be picked for a team and turn them into an  MVP.  He takes the singer that has no rhythm and makes her the lead worship leader.  He can also take a man who is wanted for murder with a speech impediment one of the most powerful leaders to ever walk the face of this earth.

We know that in order to be who God has called us to be it will involve a struggle or two that we would rather avoid.  We don’t want to struggle, let’s be honest.  We want to be the best player on the court or field, we want to be the most anointed singer ever, we want to be the best swimmer in the Olympic Games.  Bishop Ethelbert Talbo said, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not to triumph, but the struggle.  The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”  The most important part of walking with God is not just being saved by God, but being transformed by him and that’s going to take guts and a willingness to be disciplined and vulnerable before him.

Weekly challenge:

We can all use a little more confidence in God.  Read Psalms 16.  Also, check out this preaching from Pastor Steven where he talks about how the things that frustrate us maybe the thing that helps us ”  Making Friends With Frustration.”  Please feel free to start a conversation or contact us for additional help.  Follow is @throughthewinters on Facebook and Instagram