STOLEN
TROPHIES

Topics: Disappointment; Glory; Hope; Promises; Rewards; Success

References: Matthew 6:18; Philippians 3:7–14; Hebrews 6:10; 11:24–26; James 1:12

When I was a senior in high school, I was presented with two trophies at the annual sports assembly, one for being cocaptain of the basketball team and one for being the most improved player on the team. I have kept those two tiny trophies for more than thirty years.

Last year I drove back to my hometown for a thirty-year reunion of our school’s first football team. I arrived early, so I walked through the old high school to see what it looked like after three decades. I found the lobby where the sports awards are displayed and looked for the two plaques where my name would be inscribed in honor of my awards.

I found both plaques, but the name of a teammate had been substituted where my name belonged. My glory had been stolen from me.

In this sinful world we are often promised rewards that are not delivered to us. We are foolish to place our ultimate hope on any of those worldly promises. Only our Father in heaven can be trusted to deliver on his promises.

—David Gibson, Idaho Falls, Idaho