"I ALREADY MISS THE OLYMPICS…"

The games of the London Summer Olympics of 2012 are now history. There were 10,960 athletes representing 205 nations competing in 300 events over 17 days. If that isn't enough to satisfy a sporting yen, I don't know what would. I thoroughly enjoyed the games and disdained to see them end but will wait, with a great deal of anticipation, for the games of 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

The athletes were amazing. I was mystified by the gymnasts in the floor exercises. I was inspired by the track and field events. I was stunned to watch the fifteen year old swimmer, Katie Ledecky win the gold in the 800 meter freestyle to break a 23 year old American record.

The apostle Paul was a sports fan and may have attended the early Olympic Games in Athens Greece. He has likened the Christian life to various sporting events. In his writings he has commented on several different of them. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 he talks about a foot race and a boxing match. He talks about the training and the discipline and self-control that it takes to prepare for the event. The Hebrew writer wrote of what it takes to win. He says to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." The Olympic runners wore light clothes. The "weight" is anything that is slowing you down. It is the temptation that is standing in your way. He says to get rid of the weakness that can so easily entrap you. Prior to correcting these issues we cannot run to win.

The Hebrew writer says to keep your eye on the goal…the prize. "…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In the passage from 1 Corinthians Paul says that the runners in a race run to win a perishable crown, but we are running to win an imperishable one. When heaven is your home, no one can take it from you. It will be eternal. It will be worth the preparation.