Olympic Games 2024

In my opinion, I think they are all winners. Just to have made it to Paris to represent their country is a big achievement.

It is so nice to see competitors congratulating each other, even when they didn’t win. It’s so nice to see coaches smiling and supporting competitors, even in loss. This seems to show sportsmanship and encouragement, rather than the nasty side of competitiveness which is to win at all costs.

It’s interesting that the Bible talks about running to win, and strict self-control in training.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

The apostle Paul was talking about the Isthmian Games of ancient Greece. He compares the games to the Christian life. The athletes train hard to win the prize of a crown of leaves and human praise. The prize for a Christian is eternal life. Unlike each event in the Olympic Games, with only one gold medal, all Christians can get to heaven.

We are encouraged to live our daily life as Christ would live. We are to train like an athlete. Our goal is not self-improvement or individual greatness. Our goal is preaching God’s word to others, and practicing what we preach.

The story that we preach is a strange one, different from what we expect from life. We expect to work our way to the top of our game and then reap our just rewards. Or perhaps we can be lucky enough to be born to success and the comfortable life. “You get what you deserve,” doesn’t hold true at all in the Christian life. Thank God for that!

The Bible teaches that we are all born sinful, and continue to sin throughout our lives. What we deserve is eternal separation from God. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23a. But, amazingly, God chose to pay the price for our sin, by sending Jesus to die in our place. But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23b.

Heaven is a gift that we cannot earn. It is freely given to all who believe and trust in Jesus. In thankfulness, we ask God to enable us to do His will, telling others about Him, and the crown that is available for them too.

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

PRAYER: Thank you God, for my life. Help me to train my body and mind so that I can live as you would have me live. Guide my thoughts, words and deeds, so that I will point people to You. Forgive me when I live as if my comfort and pleasure is the most important thing. Forgive me for seeking the praise of other people more than your recognition. Forgive me for seeing other people as my enemies to be defeated or ignored. Help me to see them as people you love; people for whom you died, so that they can be forgiven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What do you think about the Olympic Games?

Does running a race sound like a good description for your life?