Truly Worthy

For the past 10 days or so I've been watching the Tour de France. Stage 9 was utterly unbelievable! 127 miles of riding in 90 degree heat with 5 categorized climbs totalling 16,000 feet vertically! I don't understand how the riders do it. I would die attempting such a feat. Yet the two leaders of the Tour, Contador and Schleck, were dueling it out on the final climb, continually attacking and pushing each other to the limit, and ultimately catching the breakaway. And that was only one of six mountain stages in the twenty-one days of racing that make up the Tour de France. Truly, anyone who can make it to Paris in the top three places is worthy to stand on the podium at the end of the race.

Revelation Chapter 5 tells us of one who is worthy, much moreso than any Tour de France rider, or any other human being, period! This is the Lamb that was slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Revelation 5:12 says: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

The winner of the Tour de France receives many of those things, but their feats cannot even begin to compare with what the Son of God accomplished. After a day like Stage 9, it may seem as though the cyclists in the peloton have come back from the dead to ride again, but Jesus Christ literally, physically did die and rise again. He was slain for our sins and rose again for our salvation. That is why he sits on the throne in heaven and is acclaimed by the elders and angels and living creatures.

No one is worthy of the acclaim that Christ deserves. We may make certain sacrifices out of love, or for a greater gain later on. Jesus sacrificed everything for us, even for those who would not respond in love to His sacrifice for them. He gave His all freely and willingly.

One who is so worthy deserves everything we can possibly give Him. Team members will sacrifice their own standing in the Tour for the sake of their team leader. How much more should we sacrifice ourselves for the One who gave His all for us? We should be willing to devote our power and wealth, wisdom and strength to bring honor, glory and praise to Him. The man standing in yellow on the podium in Paris may be worthy, but Jesus Christ is so much more worthy that it defies comparison!