Millions of people are now glued to their TVs and smartphones as they check their country's progress in the 2016 Olympics. Most of us will never compete in the Olympics, win a medal, or even attend the Games. We are not elite athletes and will never grace the world stage.
But there is more to life than sports.
In a spiritual guide book, St. Paul makes mention of athletic achievement as he was familiar with the Isthmian games run in Corinth every two years.
There were no gold, silver or bronze medals at these games. It was all or nothing. The winner got a crown of celery leaves and that was it. Events included footraces, wrestling, boxing, throwing the discus and javelin, long jump, chariot racing, poetry reading, and singing.
Paul in his letters to the Corinthians and Timothy, compares our spiritual journey to an athletic completion. In I Corinthians 9: 24-27, Paul tells Christians to exercise self-discipline in the Christian race so they will be victorious.
When I enter a running race, I start a training schedule three months before the event. I register and get information on receiving my race number, start day and time, and course route so I will not be disqualified. I make sure I don't start out too fast so I can complete the race in the allotted time without dropping out or coming in too slow.
Paul says to focus on finishing the race and I know the route well enough to know how close I am to finishing.
Paul also compares our spiritual journey to a boxing match. Boxers in ancient Greece wrapped their knuckles in leather straps that could contain lead, iron, and spikes. Bouts could last four hours or until an opponent was knocked out or signaled defeat.
Our spiritual journey can be a grueling marathon that requires stamina and skill to finish. Daily spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, meditation and fellowship will sustain us.
In II Timothy 2:5, Paul tells Timothy that an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. Christians follow the rule book of the Bible. In II Timothy 4: 6-8 Paul, nearing the end of his spiritual journey, imprisoned in Rome and awaiting execution in AD 67, says that he has finished the race, and kept the pledge like athletes who compete honestly and kept the oath they took just before the games.
As we watch the Olympics, let us remember that in life as in sports, there is a finish line, a crown, and a reward if we live an honest life pleasing to our righteous judge and divine Creator.
