[203 words]
I grew up with ESPN’s Sportscenter as a part of my morning routine. I always wanted to see what Michael Jordan, Tom Glavine, Cal Ripken, the Tennessee Vol football team, etc. had accomplished the night before. Stuart Scott made ESPN fun for me. At the July 16, 2014 ESPY awards, Scott remarked on his fight against cancer: “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
True! Life is not truly measured in length of years, but in how it is lived. Paul, a first century leader in the new religion of Christianity, taught us best how, why, and in what manner to live our lives. He wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
Paul, according to tradition, was beheaded for his belief in Jesus ofNazareth as the Son of God. As far as we know, he never battled cancer, only the severest persecution which cut his life short. But, Paul did not lose to persecution. He beat it by how he lived, why he lived, and the manner in which he lived. Let’s follows Paul’s example!
Michael Gilbert
Gardner Church of Christ
Martin, TN