Much pomp and circumstance is attributed to The Olympics, which dates back to the 8th century B.C. in Greece.
While I am not a huge Olympic fan, I do admire the dedication, drive, and single-minded focus thousands of athletes possess in their goal for Olympic gold. Thousands of young people train their entire lives for that one shot at a gold medal. They sacrifice their youth for their passion and competitive nature.
We often do not realize, however, that we, too, are in an event altering race with eternal consequences - the race of life. Many of us become consumed with a career or raising a family, yet we, too, have a desire and passion to live life to the fullest.
Each of us are running in a race for eternal gold, whether we realize it or not. Those belonging to Christ know a prize awaits us when this life is over, but millions of others who don't know Him do not realize their prize is not golden, but one of fire and torment.
We must all decide how to run the race. Will we race for Christ … or Satan? To deny Christ is to serve the evil one; a choice many do not realize they are making.
How much better would this world be if we, as Christians, had that single minded focus, passion and desire to live the race of life for Christ? What would happen if we sacrificed our own selfish desires to do the will of God?
What would happen to our lives, our families lives, our community, our country or our world if we strived to live for Christ. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21).
Paul, believed to have witnessed an Olympic event in Ancient Greece, realized he, too, was in a life or death race. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim 4:7-8)
When that day comes, and it will come, what will you say? Can you say you have ‘fought the good fight’ and ‘finished the race?’
The stakes are more than just a gold medal. They are eternal.