"STRIVING"

On Friday, February 7, will be the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The contenders on each of the nations' Olympic teams have been working most of their lives to prepare for their respective events in these games. In fact, they have been "striving." Some literally leave their families, at a very young age, and go away to train for their sport...and victory.

In Luke 13:22-24 Jesus used the word "strive" to describe the effort needed to get to heaven. "And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

The Greek word Jesus used which is translated "strive" is agonidzo, (pronounced a-gon-et'-zo; sounds almost like our word "agonize"). The term has an interesting history. The "agon" was once used to describe the place or location of the games or contests the Greeks were famous for, held every four years on the plain of Olympia. Today we call those games the Olympics.

Beginning in 776 B.C., with the only contest being a foot race, the number of games gradually increased to twenty-four, including wrestling, boxing, chariot-racing and horse-racing. The victor of the contests were crowned with wreaths of wild olive and such adulation was paid to him and his family that no effort was too great for a contestant to put forth in order to win. In Athens the victor was maintained at public cost for the remainder of his life! In that case the reward was worth every bit of the effort involved.

That's the way it will be with Heaven - worth the "striving" it will take to get there. Jesus never indicated it would be easy to be saved, but would be only for those who would be willing to strive or "agonize." Just as our young athletes devote their lives to victory in their sport so must we if we are to be victorious. Jesus said in Matthew 16:2If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."