Sweet Second ((publish on 5/10/2010 at 7:50 am))

My family thoroughly enjoyed watching the winter Olympics this past February.  As medal after medal was snatched up by the US, each gold-winning athlete made themselves household names in America (at least for a season).

We are inspired by those who come in first, aren't we?  Whether it is in individual efforts or team sports like hockey, anything less than gold is sometimes considered failure, or at least a profound disappointment.

This attraction to first place even comes out in our lives.  Because our society admires the "golden ones", we long ourselves to be in first place.  We long for the attention, the admiration, the rewards, and the resulting benefits.

However, God seems to have a very different economy.  It seems He esteems those who would be "silver medalists." For example:

• God chose Jacob, the second born, over his manly, first-place brother, Esau. (Genesis 25:23-26, Malachi 1:2-3)

• God's chosen one to rescue His people from a future famine, Joseph, was a first born, but of Jacob's second wife. (Genesis 35:23-24)

• God established David, the second king of Israel, as a dynasty instead of the first king, Saul. (1 Samuel 13:14, 16:1)

• The prophet Elisha, the follow-up to Elijah, received a "double portion" of Elijah's prophetic gift. (2 Kings 2:9)

I'm quite sure I could find more examples, but the ultimate example is the first man, Adam, versus Jesus.  Romans 5:17 (NET) says:

For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

Adam came first.  He was created perfect and sinless.  He had the unmarred image of God within him.  He was golden.  But through his willful, sinful decision to place himself above God and disobey God's only rule (Genesis 2:17) came the entrance of sin and the sting of death.

Then along came the second perfect, sinless man.  And through Him, Jesus, the Son of God, came life.  Because Jesus chose second place, putting the the Church first by dying for her sins, God exalted Him into true first place! (Philippians 2:5-11)

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are to imitate Him.  So let me ask you: Are you being like Christ, putting others in first place? (Philippians 2:3-4).  Or are you being like Adam, putting self in first place, and missing out on God's sweet second?

Image by Ambrozio on Stock.Xchng

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