It was a warm summer day and hundreds of parents, children and infants were huddled in groups of ten or more waiting for their turn to line up and race. The Field Day of my childhood was always an exciting time of the year when the beautiful downtown of Winchester, Massachusetts took on a festival-like nature with booths of arts and crafts and foods that lined Main Street. Eventually our group name would be called and at that moment I remember desiring only one thing: TO BE FIRST! Of course, there were some races I won, most I lost and a few I never finished, but in every race I always wanted to be first.
The Bible has quiet a lot to say about being first:
“This is what the Lord says: I am the first and the last, and there is no God except me.”[1]
“But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.”[2]
“However, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”[3]
“I’m coming soon! I will bring my reward with me to pay all people based on what they have done. I am the A and the Z, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”[4]
If God has this much to say about being “first” why then is our culture determined to replace first for fairness? Merriam –Webster defines FIRST as: preceding all others in time, order and importance; or, having the highest or most prominent part among a group of similar voices. First can also be explained as a first occurrence or an item that is of the finest grade; and in the case of my Field Day experiences, winning highest place in a competition.
The priority of what we keep first and how we do so is of the utmost importance and Scripture clearly affirms where our heart, mind and soul should primarily be focused. However, I find it curious why even in the body of Christ many Christians shy away from a desire to be first. Doesn’t God wanted His people to be pioneers, champions, leaders in principle, paramount in our faith and outstanding in our godliness? Is to too much to ask Christian’s to consider God doesn’t want us to live secondary to this world or a subsidiary to the culture and subordinate to evil. Do we ever read God desires for us to be the slightest, smallest or trivial? On the contrary if God is first than He has first place plans and purposes for every life that loves, trusts and honors Him as Lord.
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Grace and Peace.
Pastor Joshua-Paul Johnian Sr., M.A. / www.maranathach.com
[1] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Is 44:6). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.
[2] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Mt 6:33–34). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.
[3] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Mt 19:30). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.
[4] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Re 22:12–13). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.
[5] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1630). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.