Pure Gold

by Pastor Marty Tollefson

The Olympics is a celebration of competition, endurance, strength, fighting through adversity, and the joy of achievement. Moreover, it is inspiring to see the dazzling display of athletes from around the world. The culmination of each competition is the giving of medals – gold, silver, and bronze. The pageantry of flowers, music, ritual, and the draping of the medal underscores that they have fought the good fight and have finished the race.

The Apostle Paul was no stranger to the Olympic games. He knew the religious and political overtones of Greek culture were on full display during the Olympics. He doesn’t speak about the Olympic games directly, but he does borrow these athletic images to speak about the Christian life.

Paul writes about fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and receiving a crown. He underscores the need for practice, self-control, endurance, and perseverance (1Cor. 9:24-27). Living a Christian life takes practice. It calls for endurance and commitment. It takes discipline and singular focus. It calls for intentionality and grit! It takes hard work, discipline, and commitment. It might involve working through pain since life does not go well, easily. With that said, ask any Olympian why they do what they do, and the answer will come because they love it!

Love.

The pinnacle of the competition is the crown, and to use Paul’s words, the crown of righteousness. It is the finish line. It is heaven. The end. The beginning! 

Each night, this past week, I have watched some Olympic competition. These are incredible athletes that endure all kinds of adversity and are rightly deserving of medals – gold, silver, and bronze. As I watch, I am also reminded of people in daily life who are deserving of a medal. People who have endured hardship. People who are struggling and fighting their way through pain and adversity. People who have defied the odds and have continued with grit and a deep abiding hope. People, who might have reasons to give up, but have continued and risen to the challenge. People who are inspiring for how they live, why they live, and in the manner in which they live. I can name names. You could, as well.

Soon the Olympics will come to an end. We will, one day, cross the finish line and there will be Jesus. We will receive, as Paul reminds us, that crown, his crown of righteousness – pure gold!

-- Pastor Marty