Written by Clay Millener, Executive Director

Have you ever been encouraged to “keep your eyes on the prize?”  Perhaps you heard this as you were going through a season when distractions and difficulties seemed to be constantly assaulting you on that path to the ultimate goal or reward you were pursuing.   What are the “prizes” you are contending for in your life right now?  A degree?  A promotion?  A romantic relationship? A championship of some sort? A year-end bonus? A dream vacation or big screen TV?

It’s an important question because the promise of prize often enables us to press through the adversity.  In this season, I believe that our spiritual adversary has been doing everything in his power to keep our eyes off the true prize.  Every weapon of fear, anxiety, despair and distraction is being thrown at the people of God.  In such a time as this, it seems more and more imperative that we realize what the true prize is in order to stay focused and motivated to move forward.  I don’t know about you, but the old, familiar prizes like praise and recognition (whether in the secular or sacred arena), worldly treasures or a satisfying sense of self-righteousness don’t seem to hold up in times like these.

So what is the greatest spiritual prize?  Is it heaven, forgiveness, righteousness, peace?  Among all the religions of the world, this is one of the greatest distinctions of the Christian faith.   The ultimate prize is none of the things mentioned thus far.  It’s not a thing to be accomplished, achieved or obtained.  It’s a Person.  The prize is a person.  It’s God himself as revealed to us in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the Prize.  He is the pearl.  He is the treasure.

If he’s not the prize, if we don’t see his true worth and value, goodness and love, we will falter.  I was recently lamenting the realization of having lost sight of that truth several times in the past few years.  I haven’t kept my eyes on the true Prize.   The prize has become any number of things: spiritual maturity, stability and provision for my family, a fruitful ministry.  You might be thinking, “Aren’t these good things to aspire toward?”  Yes, they are, but they cannot become the Prize.  Setting our eyes and focus on these things as our motivation will only set us up for a fall, especially in trying times like the ones many of us are facing.

Jesus knew how important it was to keep his eyes on the prize.   He faced much greater opposition, though, than any of us could ever imagine.  He endured a torturous road of rejection, betrayal, mocking, beating, slander and a brutal death.  And still, he constantly kept his eyes on the Father.

There was another Prize in his sights, though.

“…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

What was the joy, “the prize,” set before Jesus?  Was it heaven?  Was it the Father?  Was it glory?  No, Jesus already had all these things.  The prize for Jesus was you.  It was me.  You were the prize… you were the reason he didn’t come down from that Cross when he easily could have.   Let that sink in.

Jesus embodies everything you’ve longed for in every prize you’ve ever sought.  He is Love perfected.  He fills every void, heals all hurts, makes all things new and will never leave or forsake you.  He’s shown you how deeply committed he is to you and just how far he would go for you.

“Open our eyes, God.  Let us see the True Prize in all His Glory! Let your love inspire us to press forward toward You through every fear, doubt, hardship, temptation and any other obstacle in our way.”