Olympic Inspiration

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” —1 Timothy 4:8

If you have had the chance to watch any of these 2008 Summer Olympic Games, you know that there has been both the “thrill of victory” and the “agony of defeat.” Seeing the difference between the gold medal and the silver medal being determined by only .01 of a second—less than the blink of an eye—has been mind-blowing to me, and I can only imagine what the athletes must have thought and felt. The excitement of watching the performances of the individuals and the teams has included seeing how years of training has paid off in strong finishes or unexpected losses, seeing how normal “obstacles” of age have been overcome by perseverance, seeing how teamwork has been demonstrated, seeing what poor sportsmanship looks like on the medal stand, seeing the number of trainers and staff necessary to support the athletes, seeing the families behind the successes of all of these disciplined individuals, and seeing the patriotism that they exhibit as they compete for themselves and their countries. It’s all been inspirational, and challenges me to put some of this in writing as I ponder what we can observe in the Olympics concerning the past, present, and future.

Inspiration from Past Olympics: The fact that this year’s Games are in China brings to mind the story of Eric Liddell, the gold medal winner of the 400m race in the 1924 Olympics. Perhaps you know his story from the Academy Award winning movie, Chariots of Fire. Liddell was scheduled to run for Great Britain in the 100m race at the Games in Paris, but he refused to run because the race was to be held on Sunday. His devotion to his faith would not allow him to violate his day of worship in that way. His teammate, Harold Abrahams, ran that race on Sunday and Liddell ran, instead, in the 400m race on Thursday—each receiving a gold medal. Eric’s Dad, a missionary in China where Eric was born, told him, “Run in God’s name, and let the world stand back and wonder.” Eric told his sister Jenny, “I believe that God made me for a purpose—for China. But He also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure. . . .to win is to honor Him.” After Liddell’s gold medal performance, he returned to China and served as a missionary until his death in 1945 of a brain tumor while in a prison camp during World War II.

Inspiration from the Present Olympics: Perhaps my favorite part of the television coverage of the Olympics is the stories of the athletes. It amazes me to realize how far they have come in their development as athletes, and what obstacles they have overcome in order to compete at this highest level. I also like to learn about what motivates them. . . . and for many of them it is their sustaining Christian faith. These current stories are available online at websites such as www.beyondtheultimate.com and www.fca.org. The amount of strength and discipline that these athletes exhibit . . . .well, “inspiring” doesn’t even seem to be a big enough word.

I appreciated, also, what our local sports writer wrote after the mistakes and trials of our U.S. gymnasts in the womens’ team competition. Dave Fairbank, of the Daily Press, wrote “I want to be like (Alicia) Sacramone because I want to be able to endure the most publicly wrenching moments of my life and still possess the focus, the poise, the determination to finish what I started. Then afterward, I want to exhibit composure that under the circumstances is nearly incomprehensible. . . .Phelps provided an ideal to which we can aspire. Sacramone demonstrated qualities every bit as enduring and valuable.” (p. D1, August 16, 2008).

Inspiration for the Future: I will never be an Olympic athlete, but I do want to exhibit the truth in the Bible which uses athletics as a metaphor for life. Two favorite verses are from Philippians and Acts:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:12-15

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” —Acts 24:20

Life is a race—for most of us it is a marathon, not a sprint. There are many challenges. Deployment is one of them. In training I understand that athletes of most sports are told to fix their eyes on the goal and not to look side-to-side or behind. Precious time can be lost in distraction . . . . and it can cause you to lose the race. The same is true of our spiritual life—we are to “fix” our eyes on Christ, the things of His Kingdom, and the prize of eternal life with Him in heaven for those who know and follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Did you see the “Bird’s Nest” audience cheer when the Olympic marathon runners entered the stadium? That is my vision of those who are watching me in the race of life: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3) When I approach the “finish line” of life, I want to have run in such a way as to “finish strong.” That can only happen if I am obedient to follow Jesus Christ and allow Him to lead me in this race.

Questions to Share:

1. Which of the Olympic sports is your favorite to watch? In what ways is training for that sport like training for enduring the challenges of life?

2. Do you feel that you have a “cloud of witnesses” who are watching you run your race of life? Who are they?

3. What is your goal—what would “finishing strong” in deployment look like to you? What would you consider to be the prize in that accomplishment?