What an amazing thing to hear Brad Thorn give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ as he rejoiced in the great moment! It is a rare thing to hear a Pakeha say such things so glory be to God.
What we saw was a victory born of meticulous planning, extraordinary leadership, great team work, unflagging courage, determination to win, passion, vision, trust and unfailing hope.
This is the sort of thing Paul speaks of when he uses athletic metaphor to describe the Christian faith. Recalling the ancient games, he tells the Corinthians to run with focus, self-discipline and strict training as they race for the prize; the wreath of victory placed on the head by the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminds the Philippians that he does not rest lazily in the assumption of his eternal life, but focuses on one thing—without looking back on his glories and his failures, he strains ahead pressing on in pursuit of the prize of eternal life. This is our challenge in the wake of the cup; to emulate the All Blacks in a spiritual sense, working with strategic planning, unity, passion and unflagging determination for the real cause—eternal life for ourselves and for others as we share the glorious story of Jesus Christ.
The All Blacks have won a great victory. They have been feted across the nation, people rejoicing, singing, partying and celebrating. They are heroes, earning the greatest honour in our rugby-mad country. One commentator asked a player how it felt to achieve rugby immortality. Graham Henry spoke of being able now to rest in ‘peace.’ He and others will likely be knighted. Each will receive a financial bonus, and their value on the rugby market has now gone up immeasurably.
Yet this is nothing compared with what God’s people will receive; the prize, the goal, the victor’s crown that Jesus spoke of. If we hold firm in the Lord, we too will stand before our God and receive our eternal reward, prize and crown. Because he did take up the cup of suffering God had for him, Jesus will hold up the cup which is the world. Because we too drank from that this same cup, we will live on eternally with him in the renewed heavens and earth.
So, what we have just experienced is not just a glorious experience of the All Blacks overcoming their greatest challenge. We have had a lesson of what we are to do for our God. Like the All Blacks, we are to press on with all our beings, in unity, and with great courage for the real World Cup, the Kingdom of God. Imagine what an impact could be made on our nation if we emulated their drive and commitment. Go deeper!
By Mark Keown , lecturer in
New Testament at Laidlaw College,
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