I was once an Olympian…oh yes, it’s true!
I felt the rush of frigid wind in my face as I sped to gold with the 1988
Jamaican Bobsled Team.
My heart raced with Jesse Owens as he showed the world that Hitler was beyond
mistaken about Aryan supremacy.
I believed in miracles as I stared at the scoreboard that read 4-3: Team USA
defeats the Soviet Union in 1980.
And my spirit was immersed in pride as Michael Phelps stormed the water and
earned eight gold medals in eight days.
Of course now you know that I’m not really an Olympian, right? At least not
genetically, but the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on the world’s
biggest stage has always captured my imagination and captivated my thoughts.
These moments and a hundred more showcases what is best in the human race –
the ability to overcome limitations, odds, and just plain laziness to receive
the most pure gold on the planet.
That’s why I believe that the dream of competing in the Olympics resides in
all of us – don’t you think? Heck, I’ve seen Team USA gear for sale inside of
Target for Pete’s sake! If given the chance, wouldn’t you don the colors and
jump, run, skate, dribble, flip, or swim at the chance to make 300 million
people proud?
Alas, the vast majority of us won’t… right? We are relegated to the Red Bull
and Doritos’s hi def cheering section, but that doesn’t mean we can’t train,
push our limits, compete, and take home a prize that will last far beyond
this life:
You've all been to
the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win.
All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and
fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I don't know about you, but I'm
running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No
sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going
to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing
out myself. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
These God inspired verses were penned by the Apostle Paul
over nearly 2000 years ago, and they refer to, as you probably have guessed,
The Olympics!
Paul was fond of comparing the Christian life to athletic events, and the
audience to whom he was writing lives in Greece, and yes, they had all been
to the city of Olympia to witness the greatest athletes of their day put it
all on the line for a wreath of olive leaves.
And just like us, the readers of Paul’s day would never compete in the
Olympics, but they could run an even more noble race for the cause of Jesus
Christ.
But it wouldn’t be easy for them, and it still isn’t easy today…
Like the Olympians, the Christian must enter into strict training. Daily
prayer and devotion to God’s word make up the high performance diet.
Exercising faith in all circumstances and avoiding relationships that might
hinder our progress comprise our daily spiritual fitness routine.
And the competition for souls is the bottom line.
Every day you either bring people closer to Jesus Christ or you drive them
away. The Christian Olympian realizes this truth, which is the motivation to
‘stay alert and in top condition’ every day!
Paul is telling us that the way to achieve excellence is to be excellent
every day- day in and day out. You don’t feel like meditating on Scripture?
Then meditate on Scripture! Lost your desire to pray? Then pray all the more!
Afraid to share your faith? Then boldly witness to all those around you who
are lost and headed to an eternity of separation from Jesus!
And when you do, rest assured that at the end of your days, you will have the
same supreme confidence that dwelt within Paul as he neared the finish line:
As for me, my life
has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is
near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have
remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return.
And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his
appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
So as you engage your minds and emotions in the upcoming
Olympic events, don’t lose sight of the fact that you are an Olympian as
well. Overcome your limitations, odds, and just plain laziness to achieve the
most pure reward in the universe.
And when you enter into the competition, focus your imagination on the face
of Jesus Christ as He reaches out His nail scarred hands on Judgment Day and
places an incorruptible crown on your head while proclaiming, “Well done,
good and faithful servant!”
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