This morning I was reminded that the Summer Olympics are this year! Now, if you know me, “sports fan” is definitely not in the list of terms people would use to describe who I am. Sure, I enjoy an occasional Buckeye football game or maybe a little bit of football between the Superbowl commercials, but VERY little else. But for some reason, I will turn on the TV and watch summer and winter Olympics.
So this got me thinking. What is it about the Olympics that appeals to me? I have pondered this today and here is the best conclusion I came to. Before an event, the network shares stories of some of the athletes. We hear about how some of them overcame crazy obstacles to get where they are. Maybe they had some type of physical disability that they conquered. Or they come from a little-known country where they had to train themselves. But despite what was in their way, they made it to the very top of their sport. They made it through qualifying rounds and now they are the best of the best and get to compete for a spot on a podium. Before the Opening Ceremonies, I probably can’t name a single athlete that will be competing (remember….not a sports fan) but for 2 weeks I get to be inspired by great stories and emotional victories.
So, if I was at the top of my game, would I have a story? What would the 3 minute clip be before I swim the 400 meter individual medley. (yeah, I think I would pick swimming if I was going to be there.)
<< Cue dreamy, dramatic music >> Born to a loving family of average means in the capital city of Ohio, Beth had a great childhood. She got to experience great things like family vacations, awards at school and really great friendships. Like many first-borns, she liked to excel in school, in music and in making good life decisions. She rarely got into trouble of any kind (well maybe little bits here and there, but that doesn’t show up in the film.) She went to church most every Sunday as a kid and served less fortunate people through various organizations. People who knew her well thought she had it all together. BUT…….she was dead and headed to hell. All of her moral living and good deeds were worthless in changing her destination. Over time, and with Godly people speaking into her life, she realized that only through a real relationship with Jesus could something be done about her doomed existence. << Cue epic music> >> Her life took a 180 degree turn and she changed her destiny forever!
Okay, I’m cheesy. But face it….people love a good “rags to riches”, “defeat turned to success” story. And LITERALLY all my moral living and good deeds were like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) until I realized that in Christ, I could gain everything. And even the best tear-jerking Olympic athlete story pales in comparison to the stories of being dead and then being alive!
Man, I love a good story…
Ephesians 2:5-6The Message (MSG)
He Tore Down the Wall
2 1-6 It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
