At the time of writing thirty two teams are competing for the soccer World Cup in South Africa.
In Scotland we call the game football! It was a privilege and joy, to speak and teach across parts of South Africa, a number of years ago, and to be based in the Cunningham Mission in the Transkei, north west of East London.
South Africa is a most beautiful country and its July weather was warm during the day and almost as cold as Scotland in the evenings.
But returning to the World Cup, we are told that this trophy is only thirty six centimetres high, and is five kilograms in weight, being made of gold and malachite.
That is the prize which football teams have spent millions of pounds on in their various preparations and travels, even in the qualifying rounds.
Writing as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we too are called by Almighty God to live our lives in pursuit of a prize.
What is that prize? Surely it cannot be better than the soccer World Cup! O, yes it is.
It last for eternity and it can only be won and gained and received through following Jesus Christ.
I have been in that Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem where on the night before Jesus was crucified he prayed to his heavenly Father that if were possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.
Jesus was about to die a horrible and horrendous death on Calvary's Cross and he was praying that if there was another way, other than the Cross, then Father show me, and take this way away! However, there was no other way.
In order to save us from our sins, Jesus Christ had to go to the Cross and sacrifice his life as the Passover Lamb.
Jesus had to shed his blood on the Cross to wash away our sin, and when he realised that was the Father's will for him he willingly gave and surrendered his life.
Such was the love of God for mankind.
Such is the love of God for every man and women in the world.
This is the Gospel, which means, the Good News.
One of my real heroes, a man called Paul, was rescued and saved from his sin by the risen and living Jesus and he said that he was pressing on to reach the prize.
What was that prize? It was the prize of his eternal reward given to him by Jesus, not because he was good, but because he was obedient and faithful, and that he sought to follow Jesus and do what Jesus called him to do.
Paul was a powerful preacher and writer, and we have many of his letters in the New Testament part of the Bible.
Do take time and make time to read them.
Paul set his heart on this amazing prize, and he knew that one day he would receive this prize if he remained 'in Christ' and faithful and loyal to Jesus Christ.
Most of us can only dream of winning the football World Cup, but any of us can know the reality of that prize which God offers through Jesus Christ.
It is salvation in the fullest sense.
It involves being forgiven and rescued from our sins, and can also involve the healing of our bodies and the resolving of many problems now.
And then, once it is all over down here, the prize is ours and it will never fade.
It is some prize! I am going for it! Are you?