Chuck Bridges Blog

While I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics, this year seems to be more exciting and interesting to me. I have some personal friends who now live in Beijing, China so I guess this has made me more ‘connected’ due to their involvement. I have watched with pride as our American swimmers and volleyball players have excelled and won gold, silver or bronze. Man, when our men’s relay team edged out France by fractions of a second, I shouted and felt an incredible rush of energy, JOY and Pride in our athletes.

Every country wants to compete against the best athletes in the world and finish their event victorious. The athletes are certainly pushing themselves beyond normal limits and enjoying the sports where they specialize. But, it also occurs to me how much more goes into their training because it is the Olympics; and because they are representing their respective countrys. They want to achieve their personal objectives to win Gold but they also want to make their country proud. It just carries an added bonus when you can say that Michael Phelps not only defeated his opponents but America beat France at the event that France was expected to win. And “WE” snatched it right out of their hands!! Sweet victory for us — bitter defeat for them.

As usual, I can’t help but relate this to the Church of Jesus Christ. Just as the Olympic athlete trains rigorously for years to have a chance to win the Gold, we as Followers of Christ should be constantly preparing ourselves to defeat the enemy and finish this “race” called life with God’s approval. Just as the Olympic athlete plays for the name on the front of their uniform, we too need to make sure we are going all out for the Name that is above all names — Jesus Christ!

Even though I don’t personally know these great athletes who are representing our country, I feel a common bond with them because they compete for the country I love. When I see U.S.A. on their uniform I immediately experience a common bond with them. In the same way we need to see fellow believers in the same way. No matter where they live, what local church they attend, or any other difference there may be, we need to see each other as members of the same team. We need to pull just as hard for our fellow Christ-Followers as we do for our Olympic athletes.

Here is THE Word on this issue:

“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.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

LET’S GO ALL OUT FOR THE GOLD! (The streets of Gold await us)