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Themes: "God's Perfect Standard, No Sin in Heaven J.D. Swimmers take your mark, get set,...
I crouched and stared out at the 50 meter lane of my high school swimming pool stretching out in front of me. Next to me were five swimmers from our 40 student ninth grade swimming class. The four lap 100 meter race was to determine the fastest swimmer in the class. The other class members sat quietly in the bleachers beside the pool. It felt good to know that I could swim better than at least 35 other people in the class. Some, like my friend Scott could barely swim the two lengths.
As we remained frozen in a crouched position, suddenly students in the bleachers began to stir and laugh. I glanced over at our swimming teacher who smirked and pointed to the starting block in lane 6. Climbing onto number 6 starting block was Al Hunter. His name was written on the wall behind us as the current state record holder in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 59 seconds.
"we'll see who is the fastest. Swimmers take your mark again." the teacher and school swim coach said with a smile.
I looked over at Al Hunter as my heart began to pound with excitement.
"Get set! Go!" the teacher yelled. Like a bullet out of a rifle Al Hunter sprung of the starting block with perfect form. The rest of us dove into our respective lanes. I pumped my arms and kicked my legs as hard and fast as I could. When I finished the first lap and began my turn, I saw all the other swimmers out of the corner of my eye but Al Hunter. He was no where in sight. The class in the bleachers was cheering loudly. My arms began to burn as I pushed myself harder and harder. As I took my final stroke and grabbed the wall, I looked up at the clock on the wall to see my time of one minute and thirty-eight seconds. Two others in the class had touched the wall before me. Al Hunter wasn't in the pool. Mr. Olson was laughing because Al had finished the race in 59 seconds, climbed out of the pool, dried off quickly and climbed into the stands with the rest of the class before the rest of us even finished.
Yes, I was faster than most of my class. Compared to the standard of 59 seconds, though, I fell way short. Compared to the standard, Al Hunter, I wasn't even close. We all fell short.
In the Bible, God's standard for us is perfection. The Lord Jesus is the only one meets that standard. Although some live better than others, none of us meet God's standard, the Lord Jesus. The Bible makes it very clear. "There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
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Andrew Musch
