IN THE ARENA / DANS L'ARENE / IN DER ARENA / EN LA ARENA (Pack of 100)

Text of the tract:

Every four years the world's best athletes get a chance to prove themselves at the Olympic Games. It's said that taking part is what counts - not winning - but tell that to the sprinters starting down the track at the start of the 100 metres final. Anyone who's any good wants to win.

The rest of us - who can't match the speed, strength and ability of the best - can only watch how well they do. But there's another arena where we're all taking part - the arena of life - and none of us are spectators. The big problem is we're not doing very well. We're not proving that we're the best or even that we're any good. We're all looking as if we're going to leave the arena in defeat. The Bible says: 'There is none who does good, no, not one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans ch. 3 vs. 12, 23) and 'it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment' (Hebrews ch. 9 v. 27).

What's to be done? Well, nothing, because it's been done. God in his love has sent His Son to take the judgment we deserve for our sins. He did this when He died on the cross 2,000 years ago: 'Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God' (1 Peter ch. 3 v. 18). And what a victory He's won! 'Christ died for our sins ... and ... rose again the third day according to the Scriptures' (1 Corinthians ch. 15 vs. 3-4). Death - the result of sin - has a powerful grip on all of us but it couldn't keep hold of the perfect Saviour, and it can't keep hold of us either if we repent of our sins and believe on Him as the only One who can save us. He said Himself, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life' (John ch. 5 v. 24).

There's nothing we can do to save ourselves, and no escape from God's judgment 'if we neglect so great a salvation' (Hebrews ch.2 v. 3). Make sure you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour before you leave the arena: 'now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians ch. 6 v. 2)!