How encouraging it is to find someone firm in his or her faith in the world of sport. It is obvious that some people are drifting spiritually. Many athletes are looking for a new gimmick to improve their performance, so they try Jesus the way they may try a lucky charm or a new color of shoes. Often a superstitious faith comes with feigned or half-hearted devotion to God. These people do not want to obey their creator; they prefer to have a “genie in a bottle” that will obey them. When convenient, they may go to church or read their Bibles, but they are often drifting with the current. Sometimes the drifters get anchored to God—sometimes they flounder and fade away. An eccentric friend who often talks in Christian jargon asked a colleague of mine, “When did you wake up?”

Baffled, the colleague replied, “6:00 am.” Frustrated that his line of inquiry was misunderstood, my friend repeated the question with more emphasis, “No man, when did you wake up—wake up spiritually! When did you become a Christian?” My colleague fired back, “Ah, I woke up in ’76, but did not get out of bed until ’80!” There are plenty of Christian weaklings getting pushed around by every fad or temptation. We need spiritually-tough athletes who will not hang onto their faith only in times of adversity. Let’s get out of bed, stand firm in our faith, and embrace the Word of God.