Going For the Gold
March 2, 2010
by Alan Cornett
The Olympics have been everywhere over the past few weeks. If Team USA holds on to its medal count lead, it will be the first time in 80 years the US has won the medal race in a winter Olympics. It’s certainly hard not to feel pride when the national anthem is cued up and the gold medal athlete stands above everyone else in victory.
One of the reasons many who never watch sports otherwise seem to like the Olympics are all the human interest stories. People from around the world travel to compete, but to arrive at the games is not an easy task. Many have had to overcome unimaginable situations in order to prepare themselves to compete.
But to each one of these individuals the end result was worth it. For that one moment the attention of the world is upon them and their victory. Pain and sacrifice have to fade away from their minds as nothing. The nagging voices in their mind that predicted doom are vanquished.
Paul looked forward to that time of spiritual victory. He writes, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8) Now recall all that Paul had gone through in order to reach that point: “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
Talk about a human interest story!
Paul had sacrificed a life of assured rabbinical success and prestige. And for what? Beatings? Stonings? Humiliating execution? How many times do you think he heard the nagging voices of doubt and discouragement? But Paul was determined to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
What is your human interest story? What is your sacrifice? What do your nagging voices of doubt tell you when the going is tough? Satan “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44)—he will tell us anything to cause us to fail.
But Paul looked forward to a victory that was offered not only to him, but “to all who have loved His appearing.” Paul’s victory can be your victory, too. Think of that moment when the entirety of creation focuses on you as the Master says, “Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21). Whatever you sacrifice now will be worth it.