Articles
Passion or Pastime?
In 2015, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series and I was a happy camper. The last time the franchise won a championship, I was nine months old. For all the Wildcat fans out there, I’m sure you can’t quite relate due to the more frequent success of the basketball program.
Whether it’s a championship season or a forgettable one, how passionate do we get over sports? Baseball is called “America’s Pastime,” and that’s exactly what it is. It “passes the time.” It’s a hobby. I can be pretty passionate about sports, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s still just a game.
If we can get so wrapped up in a game, how passionate are we about other things in our life? Let’s just get to the heart of the matter: how passionate are we about our relationship with God? How passionate are we in working within the Lord’s church and being with His people? This isn’t supposed to be a pastime, it’s supposed to be our life!
Take Paul’s words in Colossians 3:1-4: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
What do we learn just from those four verses?
If I’ve been raised with Christ:
- My focus must stay on Christ.
- This earth (physical life & pursuits) holds nothing for me because of Christ.
- My life is Christ.
I’m sure many have seen t-shirts or bumper stickers that say, “Baseball is Life” or “Barbecue is Life” or whatever hobby it might be. We get it, that’s what some folks are passionate about. However, from Paul’s words, and more so, because of Jesus’ actions, those of us who are Christians shouldn’t only claim that “Christ is my life” but we must live it with passion.
Let’s be passionate about the One who gives purpose to our time. Let’s allow our relationship with Christ to influence our church relationships, marriage relationship, family relationship, friendships, and relationships with all mankind. When the world can see our passion for Christ, and the way it effects every aspect of our life, we’ll be that light unto the world that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:14-16, and with God’s grace, they too will give glory to the Father. Our walk with Jesus isn’t a pastime…it surpasses time.
