The World Champion

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When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. — Colossians 2:13-15

It has been a lot of fun living on this side of “the pond” during the Olympics—in England near U.S. Air Force bases. Not that we’ve traversed the country following the “torch” or driven to London to rub elbows—and other body parts—with the masses. What has been fun is watching normally staid Britains cheering their country, rooting for their winners, waving their flag, and sensing a patriotism generally left guarded in their hearts. It has been warming to watch the pride they feel, and the humility expressed by some of their young men and women who worked so hard to achieve so much.

This summer has been filled with the Diamond Jubilee for the Queen, jubilation for the success of the athletes and the Olympic events, and a resurgence of British loyalty and nationalism. What a privilege to be able to see this happen.

But every time I hear Team GB announced or see the logo worn on a t-shirt, I am reminded of another Team GB—God’s Body. His team includes the well-known stone thrower, David, who managed to take a pebble from a streambed and precisely throw the rock into the bushy brow of a giant, Goliath. Then there was the Olympian strong man, Samson, who used his bare hands to push down a temple filled with Philistines. Of course there were other one-time events like the elderly man building a boat large enough for every known creature to live on for forty days and forty nights. Yes, Noah.

Olympic trials, gold medal winners, and torch bearing runners are told about throughout Scripture. The men, women, and children representing the God body team were flesh and blood who achieved God-sized triumphs merely because they were part of His Team.

Of course, there is no comparison on earth to the all-time World Champion—He who from the beginning parted seas, created volcanoes, placed stars in place, and then moved from the seat of Judge to a place in the race—the human race, that is. He who walked on the earth when He could have held the globe in His hand, who raised the dead to life, turned water into wine, and bread into life. Jesus Christ. Ever think about how many medals He received? At my last count it was three, one nail in each hand and one in His feet. He ran the race for all mankind in order for everyone to have a place at the finish line with Him. Now that’s the real deal, the real gold metal—God—metal winner!

Here’s praying you know the Champion who loved you so much He gave up His gold crown to wear a crown of thorns: “And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe.” — John 19:2

May we be as enthusiastic at His life-giving event as the countrymen have been here towards British athletes.

Questions to Share:

1. What spiritual lessons are in this Scripture? “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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.” — I Corinthians 9:24,25

2. What spiritual lessons are in this Scripture? “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.” — I Timothy 4:8

3. What application do these spiritual lessons have for your life, your race of faith? “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