My wife has been putting the Winter Olympics on TV while I’m in the room. So, yes, I got pulled into some of the games. Those athletes endure years of training to get in top shape & win gold. So then how can curling (an icy mixture of shuffleboard, bowling, mopping & yelling) be a real sport? If we’re going to call curling a sport, then so are foosball, darts, & bumper pool. Anyone, regardless of physical fitness, can win those games. I say, if you can’t pull a groin, it’s not a real sport—it’s more like a hobby.
As the Winter Olympics draw to a close this weekend, what will it all mean in the end? Those precious gold medals will one day dissolve into the elements, just like every earthly prize we chase (2 Pet. 3:10). Temporary glory fades. But a greater prize awaits those who seek first God & His kingdom—God’s gold, the victor’s crown of eternal life (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
The Winter Olympics started just a little over 100 years ago, but the ancient Greeks birthed the Olympics nearly 800 years before Christ. They ran continuously every 4 years for about 1,200 years. The Apostle Paul was familiar with all this. He used running, boxing, & wrestling metaphors, & spoke of how physical training is of some value, but godliness has greater value since it has both earthly & eternal worth (1 Tim 4:8).
Years ago, an Olympic speed skater from our area occasionally attended our church. She sacrificed & trained for 8 to 10 hours per day. Pursuing gold medals involves discipline, strenuous straining, & perseverance. Those athletes didn’t get in the shape they’re in by sitting in front of a TV with a bag of Doritos. They work out & practice relentlessly. But they consider it worth it all to be called up to stand on the podiums for the victory ceremony.
This is also true spiritually in pursuing godliness as we “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14). Paul said for this we “strive,” which is an athletic term from which we get the word “agony.” The pursuit of godliness involves self-control, focus on the goal, & endurance. It can be “agonizing,” but it will be worth it all! Training for godliness takes sanctified sweat with consistent commitment to daily practices of Bible reading, prayer, personal study, weekly worship services, classes or groups, serving, & giving. There are no shortcuts.
When I played on school sports teams, I was never a varsity or A-team kind of guy. I was more of a reserve-team or intramural player. When I played, nothing was really at stake. It was nice to be part of a team, but I didn’t put in the work or hours to become a champion. I think many Christians approach their faith that same way. They don’t treat it with any intensity. It’s more of a pastime than a pursuit. It takes desire—wanting to win by becoming like Christ. It takes focus—fixing eyes on Jesus as the Champion we want to emulate by listening to His coaching. It involves discipline—living a clean life & denying yourself lesser things for greater things.
Ancient Olympic athletes swore a solemn oath that they had strictly followed the training regulations for 10 months prior to the Games, that they’d commit no offenses like cheating or taking bribes, & that they’d abide by all rules. Otherwise, they’d face flogging, fines, or disqualification. Paul echoes that we obey God’s rules or get disqualified (2 Tim. 2:5). Hebrews tells us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1-2). This involves shedding the weight of sin that entangles us & drags us down. It’s like an athlete carrying around a heavy backpack. We need to strip it all off & get free!
In the Christian life, many start strong, full of zeal & passion. But then fatigue sets in. Distractions creep up. They slow down, drift off, & burn out. That’s why Scripture often urges us forward & warns against quitting. At the end of his life, Paul says: “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” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). This imperishable prize awaits only those who endure to the end.
Elite athletes don’t quit when their sides cramp, lungs burn, legs feel like lead, & their whole body screams, “Stop!” Champions keep straining every muscle & press on. We grow weary, but the Lord will renew our strength (Is. 40:31). Sometimes you just have to play hurt, physically or emotionally, because suffering is inevitable. So you either play hurt or you don’t play at all. Someone said success has 2 steps: 1) Take one more step. 2) When you think you can’t, refer to step one.
In Jesus’ day, “Nike” wasn’t a shoe brand—it was a Greek word that meant “victory.” Jesus is the ultimate Victor—He defeated sin, death, the devil, & hell. He wears the gold crown of triumph (Rev. 14:14), but He first wore a crown of thorns. Faith in Jesus makes us victorious, so press on (1 John 5:4, 1 Cor. 15:55-58). Thorns before gold. Much is at stake, so don’t let your faith become a hobby.