OLYMPICS 2014
I like the Olympics! It is exciting to watch those who compete. While it isn’t possible to see as much as one may want to view, it is still a two week glance into the lives of many competitors. 88 nations qualified to compete and well over 3000 athletes participated. 26 nations won medals that represented 2463 athletes.
The Bible uses the analogy of a race and athletic competition to teach us to run the race of Christianity. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “…Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). To Timothy Paul wrote, “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:4). What is it about the Olympics that attracts so much attention?
GOALS HAVE BEEN SET. The Apostle Paul was a goal setter. On one occasion he had a goal to go back to Thessalonica but was hindered by Satan (1 Thess. 2:18). To participate in the Olympics you must set the goal. Do we as Christians set spiritual goals? Have you ever set a goal to attend every service of the church? What about a goal to study the scriptures for a certain amount of time every day?
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND DEDICATION. These athletes spend years in practice and preparation. You don’t decide one day to be in the Olympics and go the next day. They must give up those things that do not relate to their goal. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). They are up early and stay late. It is sometime disheartening to see the “ho-hum” attitude that some Christians take toward Christianity but plan to win the gold in the Day of Judgment.
THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE WHO FAIL TO WIN A MEDAL. What do most of them do? Quit? No! I will try again and again until I succeed. Paul said, “…Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3: 13-14).
The Gold Medal for the Christian is heaven. We have been saved by the grace of God (Titus 2:11-14) through our obedience (1 Cor. 15:1-3). We’ve entered the arena now let’s run the race.
Larry