David Robinson: Living the Dream

David Robinson: Living The Dream (25-pack)
Christin Ditchfield

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David Robinson explains how he found fulfillment in his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (with prayer)

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David Robinson had made it to the big time. Fame, fortune, and success were his. As a center for the San Antonio Spurs, Robinson was a member of basketball's elite. He had represented the United States in the Olympics in 1988, and then started his pro career by being named Rookie of the Month every month for the entire 1989-1990 season--which made him the unanimous choice for the Rookie of the Year. He played on the All Star team and won the NBA Rebounding title. As one of the highest paid players in the NBA, Robinson had everything money could buy--luxury homes, classic automobiles--he was living a dream life.

But in his heart, David knew he didn't have everything. There was an emptiness deep inside. "I knew something was missing--I just didn't know what it was," he explains. "I kept thinking about how up and down my life was. It seemed like every time I did something, I had to do it again--or do something even better. We'd start a new season, and I'd have to re-prove myself over and over again. It was never enough."

A few years before, David had met an evangelist on an airplane, who talked to him about giving his heart to Jesus. "My mother was a Christian, and she always insisted that my brothers and sisters and I go to church. I grew up around it, I heard all the stories. I understood a little about what the Bible said, but I didn't really get the whole gist of it. I stopped going to church when I got older."

The evangelist explained to David how Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for man's sin.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

He asked David if he would like to receive Jesus as his Savior.

"I liked what he said, so I said, 'Sure!' and I prayed with him. But something still hadn't clicked in my head. Nothing in my life really changed. I never really read the Bible or tried to understand how my life was supposed to be. But deep down I kept thinking, 'There's got to be more to this, there's just got to be more to this.'"

There was, and it wasn't too long before David discovered it.

Another pastor visited David in the Spurs locker room and said he wanted to talk to him about Jesus. "I had some questions. I knew I needed to find out more about this Christian stuff," David recalls. He agreed to meet with him. But when they got together, it was the pastor who had some tough questions for David.

He began by asking, "David, do you love God?"

"Yeah, sure," David replied. "Who doesn't?"

"Well," said the pastor, "God gave us His Word, the Bible, to show us about Himself, to teach us about who He is. Do you read it?"

"Well, not often," David admitted.

The pastor asked another question: "How much time do you spend praying--you know, talking to God? You say you love Him. Don't you enjoy talking with Him, spending time with Him?"

David had to confess he didn't pray very much.

The pastor had one more question. "In the Old Testament, God asked the nation of Israel to honor Him one day a week. When was the last time you took one day--not one day a week--just one day to praise and honor God?"

"Man, I don't think I ever did that!" said David.

The pastor's words challenged him. "It made me realize that I really didn't love God. You can say all you want to say, but if your actions don't back it up, then it means nothing. I realized that day that God had given me so much, and I had never so much as thanked Him. I could see His love for me, what He had done for me, how He had stood by me, and how He had been calling out to me. My heart just broke. I started crying and I said, 'God, I'm so sorry. I've been living like You aren't real. I know You are. I can't ignore You anymore. I don't want to run from You. I want to walk with You. I want to learn about You, I want to know You, I want to love You.' I started reading my Bible and praying and spending time with Him, and my whole world just opened up."

David continues to experience phenomenal success on the basketball court, establishing himself as one of the all-time greats. But more importantly, he has a peace inside where the emptiness used to be. David Robinson found the fulfillment that all the world couldn't give him--in his relationship with Jesus Christ.

No matter how much or how little we have, we're all empty without Jesus. If you'd like to experience the peace and purpose that David has, why not pray this prayer?

God, thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You for forgiving me and giving me eternal life in You. I don't want to run from You. I want to walk with You. Help me to learn about You. Help me to know You. Help me to honor You. Help me to love You. In Jesus' name, amen.

About the Author

Christin Ditchfield is the host of the syndicated radio program “Take It to Heart!” heard daily on stations across the United States, Canada, Central and South America. She is a popular conference speaker and author of more than 40 books. Her articles have appeared in numerous national and international magazines, including Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman, Sports Spectrum, and Power for Living.