As I’m watching the Winter Olympics this season, a part of me gets a bit emotional. I feel both a sense of patriotic pride and just sheer admiration of the skill and hard work that these athletes' performances represent. I even tear up when a US medal is given and the anthem is played. Years of practice culminated in this final moment— winning. Victory.
The image of the athlete has always represented more than just physical power for me—it’s reached my soul. Even when I ran cross country in high school, I pictured the spiritual journey of the Christian—endurance.
These exciting moments of Olympians like snowboarder Shaun White, as they perform for the world and claim gold medals for their country, bring roaring applause and lauded glory. But we all know that there is much preparation behind that moment of glory. Not every day of the athlete is exciting. Many are filled with hard work and are often just plain boring.
Champion Eagles quarterback Nick Foles did not bring his team to a Superbowl win out of mere luck. And you may have seen tabloids featuring the workout routines or strict diets of athletes Michael Phelps or Tom Brady.
The Bible also uses the metaphor of the athlete for the Christian. First Corinthians 9 uses language like competing for a prize, disciplining the body, and not becoming disqualified.
But what I’ve noticed about the Christian life is that there are more non-glorious moments than glorious. Well, at least to our own eye.
They are the little moments of habit, same ol’ same ol’, getting up in the morning, doing what we’re called to do, and going to bed at night. And doing it all over again the next day.
But I believe that it’s in those quiet non-glorious moments of routine and simple discipline done in faith that God may be developing the most glorious parts of our soul—character.
Character to be patient with that person who’s just a little hard to be around. Character that chooses the harder thing when the easier and more comfortable looks a bit more attractive. Character that is faithful, has hope, and endures. Character that makes us strong.
It's not easy or quick or something we develop ourselves. It is the Holy Spirit who forms it in us through the specific training He's creatively designed for each of our lives. And sometimes, in training, it may be hard to see the big picture, but He sees it.
There will be those moments when our spiritual endeavors prove our growth, such as when we get a chance to share the Gospel or speak into another believer’s life. Those moments of when we can see the fruit of God working in our lives. And those ARE glorious moments. But they are few.
Most days are the in-between moments like right now. The everyday. Day in and day out.
So, let us be faithful. Let us do what we know we’re supposed to do in this moment. Let us run with endurance, fight the good fight, and discipline our “body.”
So, let us be faithful. Let us do what we know we’re supposed to do in this moment. Let us run with endurance, fight the good fight, and discipline our “body.”
For perseverance will produce character, and character will produce hope.
Now, picture this. The most heroic athlete of all time takes the stage. He has competed and He has won. He is given the most beautiful gold medal ever seen-- in fact, it's a gold crown. Many of them. And then, spontaneously, and with heartfelt joy and admiration, the whole stadium, wide as the eye can see and beyond, stand and join in this anthem: “Holy, Holy, Holy . . . is the Lord God Almighty."
Let's follow Him who was and is faithful.
Now, picture this. The most heroic athlete of all time takes the stage. He has competed and He has won. He is given the most beautiful gold medal ever seen-- in fact, it's a gold crown. Many of them. And then, spontaneously, and with heartfelt joy and admiration, the whole stadium, wide as the eye can see and beyond, stand and join in this anthem: “Holy, Holy, Holy . . . is the Lord God Almighty."
Let's follow Him who was and is faithful.
Romans 5:3-5
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
1 Corinthians 9: 25- 27
"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
1 Corinthians 9: 25- 27
"Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."
Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
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