The Games

            Over the last couple of weeks our home has been infected with Olympic fever.  We have been enthralled with the Olympics Games.  It is easy to get hooked on the competition. Many races come down to the millisecond, matches to the last point, games to the last second buzzer beater. It is amazing to see the athletic skill of so many different people in so many different events.  Even outside the competition there are so many interesting stories of the competitors and their struggle and dedication to becoming the best in the world.

            These type games are not however just a modern day fascination. People in the first century were very familiar with their games as well. The Corinthians had their own races known as the Isthmian games which occurred every other year and was second only to the Olympic games.  Paul uses their sports awareness to make an important point in 1^st Corinthians 9:24-25. He writes, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable”. It is always tragic to see an athlete that trains so long and hard miss out on their chance to win a medal, because of a rules violation. Every athlete knows what is required of them and what could get them disqualified, but it seems there are always those that try to get around the rules.

            The same thing tragically happens to those in the race to eternity (Hebrews 12:1 , 1^st Timothy 4:7-8). We know the spiritual discipline that it takes to endure to the end but we assume those rules don’t apply to us. We allow the things of this world to distract us and get us off course. We grow weary, tripped up by the encumbrances of this world. To win at an Olympic event, an athlete must practice long hours, give up many ordinary things and dedicate themselves to their event if they want to win gold.  As wonderful as it would be to stand on the podium and receive a medal for a sport accomplishment, it pales in compassion to those that receive a crown of life for finishing the race (1^st Peter 5:4). We need to have the dedication that those athletes have in our spiritual pursuits!