| I committed my life to Jesus when I was a young kid. I don't know at what age, but I remember praying (to trust Christ) when I was a young boy. Later, when I was in eight grade, I won the state championship. After I won, I realized that I was the same guy - it didn't change me. I felt like I would be a different person or feel different about myself, but I realized I was still Lincoln McIlravy and that I was still a person and that I needed God as much as ever and even more than ever. Success in this world does not mean anything for eternal success or eternity with God. I made a really solid commitment at that point in my life to have Jesus Christ be the priority in my life.
I felt that there was no longer any bondage; I was not a slave to sin, and now I was driven to do things the right way and do it for God. Before, I was doing things for myself, to please myself. Now, I'm trying to do things more to please God and for His ultimate purpose. It doesn't always happen. I still fall short, but the motivation is right and the reasons are right.
In this world we can put all of our importance on our outcome and our performance, when we know that through Jesus Christ performance means nothing. We have to submit to Him. That takes a lot of pressure off me, realizing that my highest priority is my relationship with Jesus Christ, not my relationship with the wrestling mat. Though that's very important and I do that for His glory, that's not the highest calling.
I feel like God has always given me this ability, and I also feel a responsibility back to Him to give it my utmost. I've tried to carry that theme through my whole life and career in wrestling.
It's neat to see these young men that think that I'm really something because I can wrestle, but now I have another message for them, and they'll listen to my other message because I can wrestle. So God's definitely using wrestling in my life for His purpose.
I think athletes have a platform and they should use it. If they believe a certain way and if they believe in Jesus Christ, they should admit it and be proud of it. If you have a good testimony, people are going to be aware that it has changed your life. We should be proud of it.
He paid the price for my sin. I came up short, because that's the way humans are designed and we're sinner and that means we miss the mark. We can't do it on our own. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness with God.
|
|
