When I was a senior in high school, I was voted co-captain and most improved player on the basketball team. At the annual sports assembly I was called forward in front of the entire student body and presented with two trophies, one for each award. It was a day of great pride for me, and I have kept those two tiny trophies for over 30 years. Last year I drove back to my hometown for a 30-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. And I found that in both cases, the name of one of my teammates had been substituted where my name belonged. Now, I'm certain that I won the awards. I remember receiving the awards. I still have the two trophies at home. But my name was not on the plaques where it belonged. My promised "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 worldly promise of reward. Only our Father in heaven can be trusted to deliver on his promises.