Apparently the Olympic Games are “not so much about winning as taking part”. I find that a difficult concept to grasp. When I watch the medal ceremonies, I imagine myself standing proudly, the national anthem playing, the flag going up, the crowd cheering as I receive my medal (gold, of course, I am allergic to everything else), returning home triumphant, riding in an open top bus around the streets of my home town, pausing only briefly at the Guildhall to receive the freedom of the city. Terrible, I know, but at least I’m honest.
What people like me don’t, however, appreciate is what it costs an athlete to compete at Olympic level. The years of unrelenting training: always getting up at some unearthly hour; constantly watching your diet; the toll on muscles and joints and relationships; the mental discipline needed to keep going and to compete; I for one would never even make it to county level, let alone the Olympics.
So what makes them do it? For some it may be the honour of having represented their country; others may focus on breaking a record or winning a medal.
Have you ever wondered what made the Lord Jesus Christ do it? Why did the creator of the universe allow His creatures to mistreat Him in the most barbaric way?
Not only that, but whilst on the cross, the only man who was ever perfect, through and through, was punished for your sin and mine. Why?
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ, “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”. He did it for the joy of knowing that He was doing the will of His Father and that through His death we can have a relationship with God.
Where is He now? In the highest place that God can give Him: at His own right hand. One day everyone will have to acknowledge Him as Lord, much better to accept Him now as your Saviour: acknowledge that He died in your place and ask Him to save you. You may achieve every other goal you set yourself and more, but the Bible says that it will be worth nothing if you lose your soul.
