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Watching the Olympics I like watching the Olympics. You will see some athletes that are young and just starting to learn their sport and others that are nearing the end of their competitive careers. They come from different parts of the world. Some will make millions of dollars due to their ability and others just hope to go out and do their best. To get to the Olympics one has to be physically gifted, but there is something more for there are other good athletes. They are determined and dedicated to their sport. They train days without number without a crowd cheering them on. In sporting terms they “pay the price” to be the best. No wonder Paul used athletics to get across some important lessons for us to learn and apply in our lives. ““24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9) In order to go to heaven we must desire it. No one will go to heaven by accident or haphazardly. We must keep the price of the upward goal before us and let no one or thing get in the way of salvation. This requires a number of things. First, one has to learn their sport. Snowboarding has rules as does speed skating, but the rules are different for each sport; just as basketball and football are played by different rules. We must understand what God requires of each of us. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2.15). Sometimes an athlete will try to win by cheating. However, with God we will not be able to bend or by pass His rules. ‘5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules’ (2 Timothy 2.5). Some things are required for each and every person. We must believe Jesus to be the Son of God, confess Him before men, repent of our sins, be baptized for the remission of our sins, and live faithfully according to His word, John 8.24; Acts 8.37; Acts 2.38; Revelation 2.10. There are some things God requires of each individual. Husbands are to love their wives as Jesus loved the church, Ephesians 5.25. Wives are to submit to and respect their husbands, Ephesians 5.22, 33. Preachers are to preach the word of God in all truthfulness and sincerity, as they rebuke, exhort, and convince the people, 2 Timothy 4.2. Elders are to watch out for the souls of the flock, Acts 20.28. There are many more passages we could site, but I think you get the idea. Second, they have to condition their body so as to compete. The training of an athlete requires discipline that is both physical and mental. The Hebrew writer tells us to lay aside every weight that so easily entangles us, Hebrews 12.1. In the context of Hebrews 11 the “weight that so easily ensnares us” is a lack of faith. We must learn to trust God’s word as stated in James 1. This means we look at the world in a different way than those of this world. We must also discipline our bodies. A stated in I Corinthians 9.27, we must control our appetites. There are some things we simply cannot do in order to go to heaven. We must abstain from drunkenness, sexual immorality, gossip, and so on. There are some things that may be lawful, but we abstain from in order to go to heaven. For instance, an athlete can eat cake and ice cream, but they do not because it is not what the body really needs. Therefore they abstain from some things that are lawful but not expedient. We may be in the same situation. There may be things we can do, but it may not be the best for our service to God. Part of the discipline of an athlete is the mental conditioning. They simply will not quit or give in to the temptation to simply go through the motions. We must not quit if we want to go to heaven. Third, we must finish the course to get our prize. In the Olympics the first 3 finishers get medals. It has been said the worse place to finish in the Olympics is fourth because they get nothing but the experience. This is where our competition is different. We are not competing against each other but against Satan and our own lust. We are learning to control our thoughts and bodies and to withstand the wiles or schemes of the devil, Ephesians 6.11. We are also competing for something more than a gold, silver, or bronze medal; we want the prize of heaven. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 9.25 the earthly prize is perishable and temporary. Heaven is an eternal place for the soul of the redeemed. In the Olympics only one person can be first whereas we can all go to heaven. One person making it does not mean someone else cannot. Every person that competes according to the rules and finishes the course will receive the crown of righteousness, 2 Timothy 4.8. Fourth, many of the athletes are relatively unknown. Some people may become well known but the majority of competitors will arrive and leave without much fanfare. They will not make millions of dollars or arrive to a big crowd at home. But they will have been in the arena and done their best. Most Christians will not become famous or millionaires. We will do our best and leave this earth relatively unknown except to those that love us. However, God knows each and every bird of the air, Matthew 6.26. We can be assured that He knows each and every one of us. "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2.19) Finally, we are not on the playing field alone. It is fitting that the Hebrew writer speaks of those that are watching us just like the crowd watches the competitors on the playing surface. "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12.1-2) The crowd watches with anticipation, cheers for those striving to do their best, and rejoices with those that win. We have a heavenly crowd that is watching us. Among that heavenly crowd is Jesus. He is our example to emulate. He paid the price so we can follow Him. In racing they have runners that pace the other runners. They take the lead and set the pace for a while, but eventually the other racers pass them and go on toward the finish line. Jesus set the pace, but He finished the race. It is up to us to run with endurance, to not get discouraged, or get tired, or take our eye off the prize of heaven. Let us watch with interest in those that compete in the physical games, but more importantly let us be dedicated to making it to heaven. – Dennis Tucker |