Last weekend, when my wife and I were doing some spring cleaning in our attic, I ran across some large, dusty boxes full of trophies, plaques, medals, and ribbons—everything from basketball to baseball, from football to swimming, from choir to academics. My mind was immediately flooded with memories of my childhood and teenage years.
One thing I noticed was that some of the awards, especially from when I was very young, were simply participation trophies and 'Honorable Mention' ribbons. (And yes, contrary to popular belief, there were participation trophies in the '70s and '80s, long before Millennials and Gen Z), while many other trophies truly were 'earned' for some achievement or championship.
The more I thought about this, the more I started seeing this as a teaching moment from the Lord and an illustration for life.
As I reflected further, I realized that much of my growing up years were spent seeking to achieve in both sports (especially baseball) and academics, and how much of my identity was wrapped up in these. These trophies were monuments to my achievements and success. Once displayed with pride on a large bookcase, they had been pushed to the back of the attic for the past 30-plus years.
As we grow up, the temptation remains to cling to past successes of the 'glory days' to give us value, or we attempt to find something new to find our identity in other than Christ. Degrees, certifications, titles, sales goals, bank accounts, spouses, kids, possessions and even ministries become our new trophies that we chase after, tout, and seek to give us meaning.
None of these things are bad things. In fact, most of these things are 'good and perfect gifts coming down from the Father above.' However, these gifts were never meant to define us.
As believers, we have a new identity that is found in the Lord alone. He is the one who redeemed us, and He is the one who gives us our true identity as adopted kids and heirs. We do not have to produce it or achieve it.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, 'In Christ, we are a new creation. The old is gone; the new has come.'
2 Peter 1:3 says, in Christ and by 'His divine power,' HE has given us everything we need for a godly life.
Ephesians 2:10 says, 'For you are God's workmanship, created for good works, which He prepared in advance for you to walk in.'
In His Kingdom, our redemption and salvation are the ultimate 'participation trophies'—not based on our performance, but completely based on His incredible kindness, grace, mercy, and love displayed at the cross. All we have to do is receive it.
The lingering questions in my mind... what trophies have I been holding onto or am I chasing today to find my value? Said another way, what or who am I looking to for my identity other than Christ?
How about you? Do you need to do some spring cleaning? Do you need to let go of some old, dusty trophies or stop pursuing new ones, and simply accept who He says you are in Him?
