Today I'll compare and contrast Olympic medals and Heavenly crowns or the Olympic races and the Christian race of faith.
There have been many controversies around the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, that's not my topic for today. I'll start with the story of a young woman who was born in Makueni Kenya called Winfred Mutile Yavi.
Mutile was to be part of Kenya's Olympic team, however, for some controversial reasons in the past, she used to miss out on Kenya's team. I understand that for major events only 2 candidates are selected to represent Kenya. Despite her rigorous training, she said that she used to be at great pains when she didn't make it to the team. That's the reason she started running for Bahrain in 2016.
She ended up competing against her Kenyan counterparts in the 3,000 metres steeplechase where she won a gold medal for Bahrain. Winfred Mutile Yavi set a new Olympic world record for the women's 3000 metres steeplechase. On Tuesday 6th August. Uganda came second and Kenya third.
She actually set a new world record of record of 8:52.76. For her gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she is set to take home Sh. 53 million, which is what Bahrain rewards athletes who win gold. Her counterparts in Kenya will only expect Sh. 5 million for a gold medal in comparison. This is less than a tenth of what Mutile will earn.
If Mutile had given up after her many frustrations of missing out on the Kenya team, she'd never have become a world champion and a world record holder. She was tenacious until she achieved her life's dream.
Many athletes all over the world practise tirelessly to win trophies in the Olympics and other games. Many still do not make it to the Olympics but still continue to hope that they will.
The Apostle Paul compares our Christian life to a race in which we are also to discipline ourselves as world athletes. The athletes are often on strict diets in addition to their daily exercise routines to keep their form.
Paul advises us on how to run to get our trophy or crown. Here is what he says:
1Co 9:24-27 WEB 24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, that you may win. 25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, 27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
We saw how the Olympic athletes prepare for the games. Some wake up at 5am to run and exercise looking forward to the day of the event that they may excel. For them it's not a one day event. The Olympic event is the culmination of their time and effort. It's the final determinant of whether their preparation was in vain or not.
How many Christians wake up early in the morning daily to pray or read God's Word or to worship?
As Christians, we should have the same zeal as we prepare for our reward in Heaven.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews gives a similar counsel:
Heb 12:1-3 WEB 1 Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
Here we see just as in the Olympics we are surrounded by witnesses or spectators who are watching our race. We are encouraged to put away distractions the sins that hinder us or slow our progress and we are to endure the hardships and accept sacrifices that we may be called upon to make. We're always to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
Paul's testimony is as follows after he had accomplished his mission here on earth.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. (7) I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. (8) From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
So my dear brother and sister let the Olympics always remind you of your own race for an eternal crown. Don't be distracted and don't be compromised.
All the best. Shalom till next time.
#Olympics2024 #crownoflife #eternalrewards